take vengeance

Meaning

1. 1phrasefixed phraseformalliterary

   to punish someone because they have harmed you or someone close to you

   Grammar: Often followed by 'on' and a person or group: He swore to take vengeance on his enemies.

   Patterns

   • take vengeance on someone
   • take vengeance for something
   • swear to take vengeance

   The king swore to take vengeance on those who had betrayed him.

   She did not want to take vengeance; she wanted justice.

   In the story, the hero takes vengeance for his father's death.

Common combinations

take vengeance on someone

The soldiers took vengeance on the village that had sheltered the rebels.

take vengeance for something

He took vengeance for the murder of his brother.

seek vengeance

The family is still seeking vengeance for the attack.

an act of vengeance

The bombing was described as an act of vengeance.

Synonyms and how they differ

take revenge

This is the more common, neutral phrase for the same idea; 'take vengeance' sounds more formal and dramatic.

avenge

This verb focuses on the person you are helping (avenge a death) rather than on the punishment itself.

retaliate

This means to attack back after an attack, often in a military or official context, without the strong emotional tone of vengeance.

Opposites

Word family

vengeance noun

The act of punishing someone for a wrong they have done.

vengeful adjective

Wanting to punish someone who has harmed you.

avenge verb

To punish someone for a wrong done to you or to someone else.

Commonly confused: take vengeance or revenge?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “take vengeance”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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