What does revelled mean?
Revelled is the past tense and past participle of the verb revel, meaning to celebrate with enthusiasm or indulge in merrymaking. It commonly describes people enjoying a victory, reunion, holiday, or other happy occasion in a lively, uninhibited way: the winners revelled, the guests revelled all night, or an entire community revelled in the news. The word carries a strongly celebratory connotation, suggesting joy and high spirits rather than quiet satisfaction. Although it is most often associated with British English, where the final -ll is standard, the form is also recognized in American English; American usage more commonly spells it “reveled.” Revelled is especially useful in narrative and descriptive writing because it conveys not merely happiness but the lively atmosphere and abandon of a genuine celebration.
verbRevelled is the past tense and past participle of revel: to celebrate enthusiastically or make merry.
- To celebrate enthusiastically, indulge in merrymaking, or make merry.
"The players revelled in their victory long into the night."
"They revelled in the warm summer evening, laughing and singing around the fire."
"After the announcement, the entire newsroom revelled in the team's remarkable success."
Revelled captures the moment when celebration becomes so uninhibited that you forget everything except the joy.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does revelled come from?
The word derives from Old French reveler, meaning “to revel” or “to make merry,” and ultimately from Latin revelare, a form of reveal, from re- and velum, “veil.” It entered Middle English in this celebratory sense and developed the modern British spelling with double l. Its relatives include revel, revelry, reveal, and revelation, all reflecting the same Latin root.
How revelled is actually used
The spelling is standard in British English and is also understood in American English, where “reveled” is more usual. The word has a celebratory, often slightly formal or literary tone and suggests exuberance rather than ordinary amusement.
Easily confused with revelled
“Revelled” is the traditional British spelling with two l’s, while American English generally uses the single-l spelling “reveled.”