Rev sth up Meaning & Examples: How to Use This Phrasal Verb

What Does “Rev sth up” Mean?

“Rev sth up” means to increase the speed, power, or energy of something, especially an engine or a process.

Introduction

The phrase “Rev sth up” is commonly used in both literal and figurative contexts. Its primary meaning relates to increasing the speed of an engine by turning it faster. However, people also use it metaphorically to describe boosting energy, excitement, or activity in various situations. Understanding the “Rev sth up” meaning helps you recognize when someone is talking about speeding something up or making it more intense. This phrasal verb is useful in everyday conversations, business, sports, and even entertainment.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: Rev something up
• Type: Transitive
• Level: B2
• Short meaning: To increase the speed or intensity of something

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Rev sth up” is a separable phrasal verb. This means the object can come between “rev” and “up” or after the whole phrase.

• rev + object + up (e.g., rev the engine up)
• rev up + object (e.g., rev up the engine)

Both forms are correct, but the first is more common when the object is a noun.

How to Use Rev sth up?

You can use “rev sth up” to talk about increasing the speed of a machine, especially vehicles. It also works for describing how someone increases excitement or activity in a situation. Use it when you want to emphasize making something faster or more energetic.

Examples

Imagine a driver preparing to race. They might rev the engine up to get ready. In conversations, people say things like:

• He revved up his motorcycle before the race started.
• The coach tried to rev up the team’s energy before the game.
• She revved up the crowd with an exciting speech.
• The company needs to rev up production to meet demand.

These sentences show how “rev sth up” can be used both literally and figuratively.

Common Mistakes

People sometimes confuse the position of the object or misuse the phrase. Here are examples to avoid:

• Incorrect: He rev up the engine.
  Correct: He revved up the engine.
• Incorrect: She revved the up engine.
  Correct: She revved the engine up.

Also, remember “rev” is usually used with machines or energy, not with people’s emotions directly (use “excite” or “energize” instead).

Differences / Synonyms

Similar phrasal verbs include “speed up,” “pump up,” and “turn up.”

• Speed up: Focuses on increasing speed, often of processes or actions.
• Pump up: Means to increase energy or enthusiasm, often in sports or motivation.
• Turn up: Usually means to increase volume or intensity, but not speed.

“Rev sth up” is unique because it specifically combines speed and energy, often relating to engines or excitement.

Common Collocations

Here are some typical objects used with “rev up” and their meanings:

• Engine: The motor of a vehicle.
• Motorcycle: A two-wheeled motor vehicle.
• Production: The process of making goods.
• Energy: Enthusiasm or power.
• Crowd: A group of people gathered together.

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of rev sth up:

• Rev Sth

Real-life Dialogue

Listen to this short conversation between two friends preparing for a car race:

Tom: Are you ready to go?
Sarah: Almost. I need to rev the engine up first.
Tom: Good idea! The faster the engine, the better the start.

Practice

Fill in the blank with the correct form of “rev up”:

Before the concert started, the DJ tried to ________ the crowd’s excitement.

• a) rev
• b) rev up
• c) revved up
• d) revving up

FAQ

• What does “rev sth up” mean?

  It means to increase the speed or energy of something, like an engine or excitement.
• Is “rev sth up” separable?

  Yes, the object can come between “rev” and “up” or after the phrase.

• Can I use “rev sth up” for people?

  It’s usually for machines or energy, not directly for people’s feelings.
• What are synonyms of “rev sth up”?

  Similar phrases include “speed up” and “pump up,” but they have slightly different uses.

• Is “rev sth up” formal or informal?

  It is mostly informal and used in casual or conversational English.