rave
B2Informal for the 'enthusiastic praise' meaning. The 'dance party' meaning is strongly informal/slang.
Definition
Meaning
to speak or write about someone or something with great enthusiasm or admiration.
Can also refer to attending a large, energetic dance party with electronic music, often lasting all night. As an adjective, it describes an extremely positive review or enthusiastic praise.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The two primary modern meanings ('enthusiastic praise' and 'all-night dance party') are semantically distinct. The verb sense of speaking wildly or irrationally (as if delirious) is now archaic/medical.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both meanings are used in both varieties. The 'dance party' meaning originated in UK counterculture. The verb/noun for the event is slightly more entrenched in UK English.
Connotations
In the UK, 'rave' as a noun for a party often specifically connotes the illegal, warehouse-based parties of the late 80s/90s. In the US, it can refer more broadly to any large electronic dance music event.
Frequency
The 'party' sense is slightly more frequent in UK English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + rave + about + [Object][Subject] + give + [Object] + a rave review[Subject] + go to + a raveVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The critics are raving”
- “Rave it up (slang, to party)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in marketing/PR contexts: 'The product got rave reviews from early testers.'
Academic
Rare. Might appear in cultural studies discussing music/party scenes.
Everyday
Common for discussing opinions on films, restaurants, etc.: 'She raved about that new Italian place.'
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The film opened to raves from the critics.
- We ended up at an illegal rave in an old warehouse.
- He gave the new album a complete rave.
American English
- The play got raves in all the papers.
- She drove to the desert for a massive rave.
- His performance earned him raves.
verb
British English
- Everyone at work is raving about the new series on the telly.
- He raved for ten minutes about the proper way to brew tea.
American English
- My mom raved about the customer service at the new store.
- The coach raved about the team's defensive effort after the game.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My friend raves about his new phone.
- They like to go to raves.
- The critic wrote a rave review for the new play.
- We spent the night at an outdoor rave.
- Despite the rave reviews, I found the novel rather predictable.
- Rave culture in the 1990s had a significant impact on fashion and music.
- The minister's speech descended into a barely coherent rave against modern society.
- The film was rhapsodized over by the critics, receiving virtually unanimous raves.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine someone RAVing (like a madman) with excitement about something they love.
Conceptual Metaphor
ENTHUSIASM IS UNCONTROLLABLE SPEECH (to rave about something).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'рейв' (reiv) which is a direct borrowing for the party meaning. The verb 'to rave' is not 'бредить' in the positive sense; use 'восторгаться', 'быть в восторге'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'rave' as a synonym for any party (it implies a specific type of music/atmosphere).
- Using the adjective 'rave' in formal contexts (e.g., 'a rave report' sounds informal).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'rave' be LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In modern usage, when meaning 'to praise,' it is positive. The older meaning of 'to speak wildly or furiously' (e.g., 'He raved in his feverish state.') is negative but now less common.
The 'enthusiastic praise' sense is still considered informal. In formal contexts, prefer synonyms like 'acclaim,' 'extol,' or 'praise highly.'
A 'rave' (noun) is a piece of enthusiastic praise. A 'rave review' is specifically a very positive review from a critic. You can 'give something a rave' or 'give it a rave review.'
Not necessarily. While the term has roots in underground, often illegal events, it is now used more broadly for any large, energetic dance music event, including legal festivals and club nights.