rave
1 Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
noun
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an act of raving.
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an extravagantly enthusiastic appraisal or review of something.
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a dance party featuring electronic dance music arranged by a disc jockey and a light show or other visual effects, and typically characterized by amphetamine and psychedelic drug use.
They have these all-night raves in a field just outside the city limits.
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British Informal. a boisterous party, especially a dance.
We hung pretty party lights and invited everyone who lived in the building to our rooftop rave.
adjective
noun
verb
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to utter (something) in a wild or incoherent manner, as when mad or delirious
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(intr) to speak in an angry uncontrolled manner
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(intr) (of the sea, wind, etc) to rage or roar
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informal (intr; foll by over or about) to write or speak (about) with great enthusiasm
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slang (intr) to enjoy oneself wildly or uninhibitedly
noun
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informal
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enthusiastic or extravagant praise
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( as modifier )
a rave review
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slang
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Also called: rave-up. a party
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a professionally organized party for young people, with electronic dance music, sometimes held in a field or disused building
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slang a fad or fashion
the latest rave
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a name given to various types of dance music, such as techno, that feature fast electronic rhythm
noun
Other Word Forms
- raver noun
Etymology
Origin of rave1
First recorded in 1325–75; 1915–25 rave 1 for def. 2; 1960–65 rave 1 for def. 8; 1985–90 rave 1 for def. 7; Middle English verb raven, probably from Middle French resver “to wander, be delirious”; further origin uncertain
Origin of rave2
First recorded in 1520–30; origin obscure; probably an alteration of dialect rathe “rail or shaft on a cart”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A cross between a prayer and a rave.
From BBC
One early party he planned—a Halloween rave at a defunct plastics plant that was a registered toxic-waste site—was shut down by the fire department after it deemed the place unsafe.
“Ladies, you are the lions of New York,” editor George Ripley raved.
From Literature
Baron Something-or-Other is raving again about trolls in The Eastern Woods.
From Literature
One SCiLL class she raved about in particular has also attracted considerable ire.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
