Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense avenges, present participle avenging, past tense, past participle avenged
verb
If you avenge a wrong or harmful act, you hurt or punish the person who is responsible for it.
He has devoted the past five years to avenging his daughter's death. [VERB noun]
She had decided to avenge herself and all the other women he had abused. [VERB pronoun-reflexive]
Synonyms: get revenge for, revenge, repay, retaliate for More Synonyms of avenge
avengerWord forms: plural avengerscountable noun
He saw himself as a Master of the Universe, an avenger of wrongs.
avenge in British English
(əˈvɛndʒ)
verb
(usually tr)
to inflict a punishment in retaliation for (harm, injury, etc) done to (a person or persons); take revenge for or on behalf of
to avenge a crime
to avenge a murdered friend
▶ USAGE The use of avenge with a reflexive pronoun was formerly considered incorrect, but is now acceptable:she avenged herself on the man who killed her daughter
Derived forms
avenger (aˈvenger)
noun
avengeress (aˈvengeress)
feminine noun
Word origin
C14: from Old French avengier, from vengier, from Latin vindicāre; see vengeance, vindicate
avenge in American English
(əˈvɛndʒ)
verb transitive, verb intransitiveWord forms: aˈvenged or aˈvenging
1.
to get revenge for (an injury, wrong, etc.)
2.
to take vengeance on behalf of, as for a wrong
SYNONYMY NOTE: avenge implies the infliction of deserved or just punishment for wrongs or oppressions;, revenge implies the infliction of punishment as an act of retaliation, usually for an injuryagainst oneself, and connotes personal malice, bitter resentment, etc. as the movingforce
Derived forms
avenger (aˈvenger)
noun
Word origin
ME avengen < OFr avengier < a- (L ad), to + vengier < L vindicare, to claim: see vindicate
Examples of 'avenge' in a sentence
avenge
As well as satisfying that primal desire to avenge a wrong, it will have nourished their self-belief.
The Sun (2017)
But we must take extra care now as his followers will want to avenge his death.
The Sun (2011)
He would have been forced to recognize his own inescapable duty - to avenge the death.
Rutherford, Ward Celtic Mythology (1987)
In other languages
avenge
British English: avenge VERB
If you avenge a wrong or harmful act, you hurt or punish the person who is responsible for it.
He has devoted the past five years to avenging his daughter's death.
American English: avenge
Brazilian Portuguese: vingar
Chinese: 为…报仇
European Spanish: vengar
French: venger
German: rächen
Italian: vendicare
Japanese: 復しゅうする
Korean: 복수하다
European Portuguese: vingar
Latin American Spanish: vengar
Chinese translation of 'avenge'
avenge
(əˈvɛndʒ)
vt
[death]替 ... 报(報)仇 (tì ... bàochóu)
(verb)
Definition
to inflict a punishment in retaliation for (harm done) or on behalf of (the person harmed)
He spent five years avenging his daughter's death.
Synonyms
get revenge for
revenge
The relatives wanted to revenge his mockery of them.
repay
retaliate for
take revenge for
hit back for
requite
pay (someone) back for
get even for (informal)
even the score for
get your own back for
take vengeance for
take satisfaction for
pay (someone) back in their own coin for
Usage note
In the past it was considered incorrect to use avenge with yourself, but this use is now acceptable and relatively common: she was determined to avenge herself upon this monster.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of repay
Definition
to make a return for (something)
Synonyms
reciprocate,
revenge,
hit back,
retaliate,
avenge,
get back at,
return the compliment,
get even with (informal),
get your own back on (informal),
make reprisal,
even or settle the score with,
pay (someone) back in their own coin
in the sense of revenge
Definition
to inflict equivalent injury or damage for (injury received)
The relatives wanted to revenge his mockery of them.