revolution

A movement in which a country’s people remove their government and replace it, often using force.

• The revolution ended the king’s rule.
• Many people joined the revolution.
• Several revolutions began with demands for food and freedom.

Similar words: uprising, revolt, rebellion

Common phrases: lead a revolution, start a revolution, violent revolution, popular revolution

A very large change in how people do something or think about it.

• The internet caused a revolution in shopping.
• The digital revolution changed how we communicate.
• Several scientific revolutions have transformed medicine.

How to use it: a revolution in something (Cheap computers brought a revolution in office work.)

Similar words: transformation, upheaval

Common phrases: industrial revolution, digital revolution, revolution in something

One complete turn of something around its own centre or central line.

• The wheel made one revolution.
• Count the revolutions as the shaft turns.
• The motor runs at three thousand revolutions per minute.

Similar words: turn, rotation

Common phrases: complete revolution, one revolution, revolution per minute

A major political change that transforms a government or the way a country is ruled.

• The revolution changed the country’s government.
• A peaceful revolution replaced the monarchy with a republic.
• The constitution reflected the ideals of the revolution.

Similar words: upheaval, transformation

Common phrases: political revolution, peaceful revolution, constitutional revolution

One complete journey of a planet or other body around another body in space.

• The planet completed one revolution.
• Each revolution of the moon takes about a month.
• The satellite’s period of revolution is ninety minutes.

How to use it: a revolution around something (Earth completes a revolution around the sun in about a year.)

Similar words: orbit

Common phrases: orbital revolution, revolution around something, period of revolution