raving
C1Informal to neutral; can be pejorative or hyperbolic.
Definition
Meaning
Speaking or behaving in a wild, uncontrolled, or irrational manner, often with intense emotion.
Used as an intensifier to mean 'extremely' or 'completely' (e.g., 'raving beauty'). Can also refer to enthusiastic, often public praise.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As an adjective/adverb, it often intensifies a negative quality (e.g., 'raving mad') but can be positive in contexts like 'raving success'. The verb form implies loss of control.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use all forms similarly. 'Raving' as an intensifier might be slightly more common in UK informal speech.
Connotations
Equally strong connotations of irrationality or extreme enthusiasm in both varieties.
Frequency
Comparable frequency; common in informal contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + be + raving + (about + [Object])[Subject] + start/stop + raving[Subject] + give + [Indirect Object] + a raving reviewVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Raving mad”
- “Raving beauty”
- “Raving and ranting”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might appear in hyperbolic marketing: 'The product got raving reviews.'
Academic
Very rare, except in literary/psychological analysis of behaviour.
Everyday
Common in informal speech to describe irrational anger or extreme enthusiasm.
Technical
Not used in technical registers.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He's been raving about that new bakery in Camden all week.
- After the verdict, the accused started raving in the dock.
American English
- She wouldn't stop raving about the concert in Chicago.
- The fever made him rave incoherently all night.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My uncle is raving about his new car.
- She was raving mad when she saw the mess.
- The critic gave the film a raving review, calling it a masterpiece.
- He was found in the street, raving and shouting at strangers.
- Despite the director's raving denunciation of the critics, the play closed after a week.
- Her latest novel has been the subject of raving endorsements from several literary prize panels.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a WAVE of emotion that makes someone RAVE - RAVing.
Conceptual Metaphor
INTENSE EMOTION IS MADNESS / ENTHUSIASM IS A PHYSICAL FORCE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'рейв' (rave - the party/music genre).
- Do not translate 'raving mad' literally as 'ревущий сумасшедший'; use 'совершенно безумный'.
- As an intensifier ('raving beauty'), it does not mean 'кричащая', but 'потрясающая, ослепительная'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'raving' to mean simply 'shouting' (it implies irrationality).
- Using it in formal writing.
- Confusing 'raving' (adj/adv) with 'to rave' (verb) in sentence structure.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'raving' used as an intensifier meaning 'extremely'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While often describing madness or anger ('raving lunatic'), it can be positive as an intensifier ('raving beauty') or when describing praise ('raving reviews').
It is generally informal. In formal contexts, synonyms like 'delirious', 'enthusiastic', or 'effusive' are preferred.
They are often paired ('raving and ranting'). 'Raving' suggests wild, incoherent, or irrational speech, often from emotion or madness. 'Ranting' implies a long, angry, and often pompous speech, typically about a grievance.
It can be, as it historically and metaphorically associates mental illness with negative behaviour. More sensitive alternatives like 'completely irrational' or 'furiously angry' are often preferred.