Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense raves, present participle raving, past tense, past participle raved
1. verb
If someone raves, they talk in an excited and uncontrolled way.
She cried and raved for weeks, and people did not know what to do. [VERB]
'What is wrong with you, acting like that,' she raved, pacing up and down frantically. [VERB with quote]
Synonyms: rant, rage, roar, thunder More Synonyms of rave
2. verb
If you raveabout something, you speak or write about it with great enthusiasm.
Rachel raved about the new foods she ate while she was there. [VERB + about]
'Such lovely clothes. I'd no idea Milan was so wonderful,' she raved. [VERB with quote]
Synonyms: enthuse, praise, gush, be delighted by More Synonyms of rave
3. countable noun
A rave is a big event at which young people dance to electronic music in a large building or in theopen air. Raves are often associated with illegal drugs.
[British]
...an all-night rave at Castle Donington.
Rave is also an adjective.
Old faces and new talents are making it big on the rave scene.
4. countable noun
A rave is the same as a rave review.
[informal]
The resulting show, 'Only the Truth is Funny', has drawn raves from the critics.
5. See also raving
6. to rant and rave
More Synonyms of rave
rave in British English1
(reɪv)
verb
1.
to utter (something) in a wild or incoherent manner, as when mad or delirious
2. (intransitive)
to speak in an angry uncontrolled manner
3. (intransitive)
(of the sea, wind, etc) to rage or roar
4. (intr; foll by over or about) informal
to write or speak (about) with great enthusiasm
5. (intransitive) British slang
to enjoy oneself wildly or uninhibitedly
noun
6. informal
a.
enthusiastic or extravagant praise
b.
(as modifier)
a rave review
7. British slang
a. Also called: rave-up
a party
b.
a professionally organized party for young people, with electronic dance music, sometimes held in a field or disused building
8. British slang
a fad or fashion
the latest rave
9.
a name given to various types of dance music, such as techno, that feature fast electronic rhythm
Word origin
C14 raven, apparently from Old French resver to wander
rave in British English2
(reɪv)
noun
a vertical sidepiece on a wagon
Word origin
C16: modification of dialect rathe, of uncertain origin
rave in American English
(reɪv)
verb intransitiveWord forms: raved or ˈraving
1.
to talk incoherently or wildly, as in a delirious or demented state
2.
to talk with great or excessive enthusiasm (about)
3.
to rage or roar, as a storm
verb transitive
4.
to utter incoherently
noun
5.
an act or instance of raving
6.
a raving action or speech
7.
a kind of loosely organized dance party, lasting through the night, that originated in Britain in the 1980s: a rave features techno music and typically includes the use of psychedelic drugs
8. US, Informal
an extremely or excessively enthusiastic commendation
often used attributively
Word origin
ME raven, prob. < OFr raver, var. of rever, resver, to roam (> Fr rêver, to dream) < ? re-, re- + *esver, to roam, wander < VL *exvagare, for L evagari, to roam about (< e-, for ex-, out + vagari): see vagary
Examples of 'rave' in a sentence
rave
She found the photos on my phone and ranted and raved for hours.
The Sun (2016)
At the time of its construction it received rave reviews.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She also wrote a book of healthy sweet recipes that gets rave reviews on Amazon.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
After two months away from the show due to stress and exhaustion she returned in July to rave reviews.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The Crown's reviews are raves.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Fitness festivals In the same way some people are now raving sober, other s are going to festivals for health reasons.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
I'm big on the front page of both, raved about in one and torn to shreds in the other.
The Sun (2016)
To rave about this performance is tantamount to wilful blindness.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
These pious raves are often unsupported by quotation.
The Times Literary Supplement (2012)
We will find that out without people ranting and raving or big long speeches.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
How many parents would drive their daughter around to play at illegal raves?
The Sun (2015)
You can read their rave reviews here.
The Sun (2015)
She also received rave reviews from the judges.
The Sun (2010)
House music and rave culture consumed a generation.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They will swear at them and rant and rave.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Rail enthusiasts rave about its enormous signal box.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
But surely people were constantly raving about the way she looked?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He would rant and rave and shout.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Fans rave about the health and nutrition benefits of munching on mouldy meals.
The Sun (2015)
Four police officers and a police dog were injured when they were called to shut down an illegal rave.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Cornwall police yesterday sealed off a farm after learning it was going to be the site of an illegal rave.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
They were also raving about gifts they'd been sent by fans.
The Sun (2012)
There were still beautiful people in raves, but really nobody cared that much.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Locals have been horrified by the flocks of tourists heading to their town for all-night raves and bar crawls.
The Sun (2014)
AFTER its rave reviews you might have expected the frankly stunning cold war spy thriller to be far higher on the chart.
The Sun (2011)
So far, this year's vintage has received mostly rave reviews.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Russian fans were still dancing at the all-night rave and there was only time for a few hours'sleep.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Celebs also raved online about the ITV show's revamp.
The Sun (2011)
We wailed as our pop heroes sang of teenage love, reflecting our own angst, and remember the fantastic surge of energy from that rave in a field.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Word lists with
rave
Types of entertainment
In other languages
rave
British English: rave /reɪv/ NOUN
A rave is a big event at which young people dance to electronic music in a large building or in the open air.
...an all-night rave.
American English: rave
Arabic: هَذْي
Brazilian Portuguese: rave
Chinese: 吹捧
Croatian: rave
Czech: technopárty
Danish: rave
Dutch: rave knalfuif
European Spanish: elogio
Finnish: ylistävä arvostelu
French: rave
German: Schwärmerei
Greek: γλέντι
Italian: rave
Japanese: べたぼめ
Korean: 광란의 파티
Norwegian: begeistret omtale
Polish: zaślepienie
European Portuguese: rave
Romanian: rave
Russian: рэйв-вечеринка
Latin American Spanish: fiesta electrónica
Swedish: rejvfest
Thai: งานเต้นรำของวัยรุ่น
Turkish: dans partisi
Ukrainian: вечірка
Vietnamese: bữa tiệc linh đình
British English: rave /reɪv/ VERB
If someone raves, they talk in an excited and uncontrolled way.
`What is wrong with you, acting like that?' she raved.