rev up

noun

1. a revolution (in an engine or the like).

verb (used with object), revved, rev·ving.

2. to accelerate sharply the speed of (an engine or the like) (often followed by up).

verb (used without object), revved, rev·ving.

3. (of an engine) to accelerate; become revved (often followed by up).

Verb Phrases

4. rev up, to increase in strength or accelerate sharply: The economy is beginning to rev up.

noun

1. revolution per minutethe engine was doing 5000 revs

verb revs, revving or revved

2. (often foll by up) to increase the speed of revolution of (an engine)

v.

1916, from earlier noun (1901), shortening of revolution, in reference to the internal combustion engine. Related: Revved; revving.

Increase the speed or rate of, enliven, stimulate, as in Bill revved up the motor, or They looked for ways to rev up the ad campaign. The verb rev is an abbreviation for revolution, alluding to the rate of rotation of an engine. The idiom dates from about 1920 and has been used figuratively since the mid-1900s.