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revolution definition

revo·lu·tion (rev′ə lo̵̅o̅′s̸hən)

noun

    1. the movement of an orbiting celestial object, as a star or planet, completely around another object
    2. apparent movement of the sun and stars around the earth
    3. the time taken for a body to go around an orbit and return to its original position
    1. a turning or spinning motion of a body, shaft, etc. around a center or axis; rotation
    2. one complete turn of such a rotating body, shaft, etc.
  3. a complete cycle of events the revolution of the seasons
  4. a complete or radical change of any kind a revolution in modern physics
  5. overthrow of a government, form of government, or social system by those governed and usually by forceful means, with another government or system taking its place the American Revolution (1775), the French Revolution (1789), the Chinese Revolution (1911), the Russian Revolution (1917)

Etymology: ME revolucion < OFr < LL revolutio < L revolutus, pp. of revolvere: see revolve

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

revolution Synonyms

revolution

n.

  1. A complete motion about an axis

    rotation, spin, turn, revolving, circuit, orbit, round, whirl, gyration, circumvolution, cycle, roll, reel, twirl, swirl, pirouette.

  2. An armed uprising

    revolt, rebellion, uprising, mutiny, insurrection, anarchy, coup, coup d'état, destruction, overturn, upset, overthrow, reversal, rising, riot, outbreak, violence, bloodshed, turbulence, insubordination, disturbance, reformation, plot, cabal, junta, putsch, underground activity, guerrilla activity, unrest, upheaval, tumult, disorder, foment, turmoil, uproar, row, strife, strike, subversion, breakup, secession, convulsion, throe; see also sense 3.

    Antonyms law*, order*, control. *

    Important revolutions include: Protectorate, 1653, Glorious Revolution, 1688, England; Revolutionary War, American Revolution, 1775, United States; French Revolution, 1789; War of Independence, 1821, Greece; Polish Revolt Against Russia, 1830, Poland; Rise of the Young Turks, 1908; Overthrow of the Manchus, 1911, China; Mexican Revolution, 1911; Russian Revolution, October Revolution, 1917; Rise of the German Republic, 1918; March on Rome of Fascisti, 1920, Italy; Overthrow of Alphonso XIII, 1931, Spain; Nazi Seizure of Government, 1933, Germany; Chinese Communist Revolution, 1949; Revolt Against the Netherlands, 1949, Indonesia; Revolt of the French Indo-Chinese States, 1954; Cuban Revolution, 1959; Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, 1966, China; Iranian Revolution, 1979; Opening of the Berlin Wall, 1989; Dissolution of the Soviet Union, 1991; Velvet Revolution, 1993, Czechoslovakia.

  3. A reversal

    change, radical change, metamorphosis, substitution, end of an era, epoch, reconstruction, overturn, upset, overthrow, debacle, cataclysm, revolution in ideas, political upheaval, disintegration, falling apart; see also sense 2; change 2.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

revolution Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • undergo: Over the past 20 years waste management in the UK has undergone a quiet revolution with increasing amounts of waste being recycled.

Converse of subject

  • overthrow: Hashemite rule in Iraq lasted until 1958 when it was overthrown by a popular revolution, installing a left-wing, pro-Soviet military government.

Adjective modifier

  • proletarian: In France, I base the aim of the proletarian revolution... .

Modifies a noun

  • brewing: It made nationalist sense to see Ceylon as part of the larger revolution brewing in India.

Noun used with modifier

  • Bolshevik: Trotsky's leadership during the Russian Civil War probably saved the Bolshevik Revolution of November 1917.

Preposition: of

  • spindle: Carriage feed rates vary through fifty changes from 0.0005 " to 0.016 " per revolution of the headstock spindle.
revolution usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

revolution quotes

The sadness of the women's movement isthat they don't allow the necessity of love. See, I don't personally trust any revolution where love is not allowed.

-Angelou, Maya originally MayaJohnson

   Hope ushers in a Revolutionöas earthquakes are preceded by bright weather. 192

-Carlyle,Thomas

Wearenot politicians.Wemade ourrevolutiontogetthe politicians out.

-Castro (Ruz), Fidel

revolution quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"revolution." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/revolution>

APA Style

revolution. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/revolution

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