YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

avenge

Verb

IPA /əˈvendʒ/

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Meaning in plain English

To get back at someone for a wrong or defeat suffered by yourself or another person.

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Pronunciation

avenge/əˈvendʒ/

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A team suffers defeat in a final
It faces the same opponent again
It wins the return match

In sport, a team can avenge an earlier defeat by winning a later contest.

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Examples in context

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In the sequel, the hero returns to avenge an attack on his brother.
The school team hoped to avenge its earlier defeat in the final.

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In the sequel, the hero returns to ________ an attack on his brother.

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avenge — To get back at someone for a wrong or defeat suffered by yourself or another person.

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To get back at someone for a wrong or defeat suffered by yourself or another person.

Compare: In the sequel, the hero returns to avenge an attack on his brother.

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Word origin

From Old French avengier, ultimately related to Latin vindicare.

Did you know?

Avenge can be used in sports reporting for responding to an earlier defeat with a victory.

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