What does revving mean?
Revving means making an engine or motor run faster, usually by increasing its speed sharply while it remains stationary. The verb is commonly heard with cars and motorcycles: a driver may rev an engine to warm it, create a louder sound, or prepare it for rapid acceleration. In figurative contexts, “revs” or “revving up” refers to a sharp increase in activity, excitement, or effort. The expression “revving up” is particularly common when describing preparations for an event, campaign, or performance. Revving carries a dynamic, energetic quality because it suggests immediate power and acceleration. It is related to the abbreviation “rev,” which refers to a revolution of an engine or motor, and ultimately to the Latin root shared by words such as revolve and revolution.
verbTo increase the speed of an engine or motor, especially by accelerating it rapidly while stationary. It can also mean to increase the speed or intensity of something.
- To increase the speed of an engine or motor, especially by accelerating it rapidly.
- To increase the speed, intensity, or activity of something.
"She revved the motorcycle and sped away."
"The driver revved the engine while waiting at the lights."
"The campaign is revving up its efforts ahead of the election."
A single turn of the throttle can make an engine’s pitch rise dramatically, turning ordinary vibration into a mechanical roar.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does revving come from?
The modern verb developed from “rev,” a shortening of “revolution” used in the sense of a complete cycle of an engine. “Rev” later became established in the additional sense of speeding up an engine, especially during the early development of motor vehicles. The word “revolution” comes from Latin revolver, meaning “to turn back or roll back,” from the same root as revolve.
Related word forms
How revving is actually used
The word is especially associated with cars, motorcycles, and other vehicles with engines. In figurative use, it suggests a rapid increase in activity, energy, or intensity.