What does reveled mean?
Reveled is the past tense of the verb “revel” and means to celebrate noisily, exuberantly, and without restraint. It is especially associated with communal festivities such as parties, weddings, victories, and public celebrations, where music, food, and good spirits may be shared. The figurative expression “revel in” is even more common: it means to take intense pleasure or delight in a person, place, achievement, or experience. For example, a visitor might revel in the atmosphere of a historic city, while a team might revel in an unexpected victory. The word conveys enthusiasm, spontaneity, and often a degree of abandon, making it more expressive than simply “enjoyed.” It is standard in American English, while British usage commonly spells the past tense with two middle l’s as “revelled.”
verbTo celebrate noisily and enthusiastically, especially at a party or public event. In its common figurative use, to revel in something means to take intense pleasure or delight in it.
- To celebrate noisily and enthusiastically.
- To take great pleasure or delight in something.
"The guests reveled in the music until the early hours of the morning."
"The town reveled after its team won the championship."
"She reveled in the opportunity to study rare manuscripts."
Revel originally meant to display or proclaim something publicly before it came to mean celebrating with boisterous delight.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does reveled come from?
The verb comes through Middle English from Anglo-Norman French “reveler,” meaning to raise a tumult or make a public display. This was ultimately borrowed from Latin “revelare,” formed from the prefix “re-” and “velum,” meaning veil. The same Latin root underlies “reveal,” while other related English words include “revelation,” “revelatory,” and “revelry.”
Related word forms
How reveled is actually used
The common figurative expression is “revel in,” meaning to enjoy something intensely. The US spelling is “reveled”; British English traditionally uses “revelled.” The word can suggest carefree, exuberant celebration and may carry a slightly festive or uninhibited tone.
Easily confused with reveled
“Reveled” means celebrated or took great pleasure, whereas “revealed” means made something known or visible.