revolution
revolution — noun
1. an event where the people of a country join together to push out their leaders a
an event where the people of a country join together to push out their leaders and build a new form of government, typically through armed struggle or widespread protest
The country's revolution in 1989 led to the end of a long military dictatorship.
revolution + in + [year] for historical events
Christopher's grandfather was a doctor who treated wounded soldiers during the revolution.
Many citizens fled the capital city when the revolution began to spread across the region.
Sana's parents told her stories about the food shortages they endured during the revolution.
After the revolution, the new government focused on rebuilding schools and hospitals across the country.
- counter-revolution
a movement to reverse the changes made by a revolution
- stability
a state where no such change is happening or expected
文法句型
revolution + against + [entity]
revolution + in + [place]
用法筆記
When used as an uncountable noun, revolution refers to the concept or process of revolutionary change rather than a specific event: 'The country was on the brink of revolution.'
常見錯誤
2. a complete and far-reaching shift in how people think about or carry out a parti
a complete and far-reaching shift in how people think about or carry out a particular activity, typically brought about by new discoveries or tools
The invention of the smartphone sparked a revolution in how people communicate with one another.
revolution + in + [activity/field] for transformative change
Rania believes that online education has started a quiet revolution in rural communities across Southeast Asia.
Kofi said the digital revolution changed the music industry more than any other event in the past fifty years.
Advances in gene editing have brought about a revolution in how doctors treat inherited diseases.
Caleb thinks the biggest revolution in cooking came when people began using freezers to store fresh food.
- transformation
less dramatic; can happen slowly over time without the suddenness implied by revolution
- upheaval
emphasises the disruptive, unsettled nature of the change; more negative in tone
- paradigm shift
more formal and intellectual; used mainly in academic or scientific contexts
- stagnation
a period where nothing new happens or improves
文法句型
revolution + in + [field/activity]
用法筆記
This sense is typically modified by an adjective or a prepositional phrase beginning with 'in' that names the field affected: 'the industrial revolution', 'a revolution in medicine'.
常見錯誤
3. the continuous movement of one object around another object or around a central
the continuous movement of one object around another object or around a central point, following a curved path
The revolution of the Earth around the Sun takes approximately three hundred and sixty-five days.
revolution + of + [body] + around + [central body]
Jisoo built a model showing the revolution of the Moon around the Earth using wire and clay.
Planets closer to the Sun complete their revolution in a much shorter time than the outer planets do.
Tuan learned that a satellite in low orbit makes a full revolution around the Earth every ninety minutes.
The spinning arm of the carnival ride took twelve seconds for each complete revolution around its centre.
文法句型
revolution + around + [point/body]
revolution + of + [body]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 4 (ONE FULL TURN): this sense describes continuous orbital or circular movement as a process, while sense 4 counts individual completed turns. In astronomy, 'revolution' refers to orbital motion around another body, while 'rotation' refers to spinning on an axis.
常見錯誤
4. a single full turn of an object around its centre, ending exactly where it began
a single full turn of an object around its centre, ending exactly where it began
The car engine was running at three thousand revolutions per minute when Tamar pressed the accelerator.
[number] + revolutions per minute (rpm) — common in mechanics
Each revolution of the bicycle wheel moves the bike forward by about two metres on flat ground.
Élise counted the revolutions of the old windmill blades as they turned slowly in the afternoon breeze.
Rafael watched the record spin on the turntable and counted each revolution until the song ended.
The wheels on Emre's toy car made a clicking noise with every full revolution on the wooden floor.
文法句型
[number] + revolution(s)
revolution + per + [time unit]
用法筆記
Commonly used with numbers and time units, especially with the abbreviation 'rpm' (revolutions per minute) to describe engine or motor speed. This sense is always countable.