avenge

American  

[uh-venj] / əˈvɛndʒ /

verb (used with object)

avenged, avenging

1. to take vengeance or exact satisfaction for.

   to avenge a grave insult.

   Antonyms:

   forgive

2. to take vengeance on behalf of.

   He avenged his brother.

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avenge British  

/ əˈvɛndʒ /

verb

1. (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

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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

Related Words

Avenge, revenge both imply to inflict pain or harm in return for pain or harm inflicted on oneself or those persons or causes to which one feels loyalty. The two words were formerly interchangeable, but have been differentiated until they now convey widely diverse ideas. Avenge is now restricted to inflicting punishment as an act of retributive justice or as a vindication of propriety: to avenge a murder by bringing the criminal to trial. Revenge implies inflicting pain or harm to retaliate for real or fancied wrongs; a reflexive pronoun is often used with this verb: Iago wished to revenge himself upon Othello.

Other Word Forms

• avengeful adjective
• avenger noun
• avengingly adverb
• unavenged adjective
• unavenging adjective
• unavengingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of avenge

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English avengen, from Old French avengier, equivalent to a- prefix meaning “toward, increase” ( see a- ⁵) + vengier, from Latin vindicāre; see vindicate

Explanation

If you avenge your father's death by killing his murderer (thereby taking revenge for the crime), there is a good chance you'll end up in jail, if you're caught. Many movie plots center on a character who seeks to avenge an injury of some kind. Whether it be Simba in "The Lion King," who wants to avenge his father's death, or Erin Brockovich, who seeks to avenge the suffering caused by a crooked and polluting California power company. One trick to remembering the word is that it's similar to the word revenge, which is the thing you're going for when you're seeking to avenge a bad deed. Watch for the venge in both words, and you'll know you're in the right department.

Example Sentences

He was beaten by McIlroy in a play-off last year, but put himself in position to avenge that defeat as McIlroy's stone-cold putter loosened his grip on the tournament.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

Sabalenka, a two-time Australian Open champion, is bidding to reach her fourth straight Melbourne final and avenge a shock defeat last year to Madison Keys.

From Barron's • Jan. 25, 2026

The Sea Kings scored shortly thereafter to avenge a 3-0 defeat in the Southern Section Division 1 quarterfinals last year.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 7, 2026

In its still-battered condition, Islamic State isn’t likely to escalate its attacks against the U.S. to avenge the strikes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 20, 2025

He asked who would avenge Balder’s death, and her answer puzzled him.

From "Norse Mythology" by Neil Gaiman

Related Words

• vindicate