rev

The word "rev" most commonly means to make an engine run faster by increasing its revolutions per minute (RPM). If someone revs a car or motorcycle engine, they cause it to speed up, usually making a louder sound at the same time. You can picture a driver at a traffic light who presses the gas pedal and makes the engine surge before moving. "He revved the motorcycle and sped off down the highway."

The word is also common in the phrase "rev up." In this form, it can still refer to engines, but it is often used more broadly to mean making people feel excited, active, or ready for action. A speaker might rev up a crowd before an event, or a coach might rev up a team before a game. It can also describe activity increasing: a company may rev up production before a busy season.

The idea behind the word is motion that speeds up. It began as a short form of "revolution," meaning a full turn, and that sense still sits at the center of the word. Because of that, "rev" usually sounds most natural with engines, machines, and the set phrase "rev up." It is less often used on its own for abstract feelings. Overall, the word suggests a clear rise in speed, power, sound, or excitement.