Revolutionary is an adjective describing something connected with or promoting a radical change in society, politics, or technology. It often characterizes ideas, movements, or individuals that advocate or bring about transformative shifts. The term carries a nuanced sense of upheaval and innovation, typically with historical or ideological implications.
US: rhotic, stronger /r/ and clearer /ɹ/; UK: non-rhotic in some speakers, softer /r/ with more schwa; AU: tends toward a flatter vowel space, with a slight /ɜː/ in certain vowels. Arm yourself with IPA: US /ˌrɛvəˈluːʃəˌnɛri/, UK /ˌrɛvəˈluːʃənəri/, AU /ˌɹɛvəˈluːʃənəri/. Vowel shifts: /ɪ/ in re-, /ə/ schwa in many unstressed vowels, /uː/ in -luː-, and /ə/ in -ə- and -ri. Practice with face-to-face or mirrored drills to monitor lip rounding and jaw openness. -US emphasizes /r/ and a fuller /uː/; -UK softens r and may reduce the final vowel; -AU blends and flattens some vowels, but keeps /ʃ/ distinct.
"The revolutionary movement toppled the old regime and inspired new democratic ideals."
"Technological breakthroughs in the 21st century have led to revolutionary changes in communication."
"Her revolutionary research challenges long-standing theories in physics."
"They launched a revolutionary product that reshaped the market and consumer expectations."
Revolutionary derives from the noun revolution, which originates from the Latin revolutio, meaning a turning around or a cycle. The root volv- (to roll, turn) appears in many related words such as evolve and revolve. The suffix -ary forms adjectives indicating belonging or relating to, and -tion denotes an action or process. The sense of radical, sweeping change emerges in the late 16th to 17th centuries, aligning with political revolts and transformative movements. First known use as an adjective to describe revolutionary ideas appears in early modern political discourse, 17th-18th centuries, later widening to sciences and technology during the Industrial and Scientific Revolutions. Over time, the word accrued connotations of insurgent change and progressive disruption, often carrying ideological weight in historical contexts.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "revolutionary" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "revolutionary" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "revolutionary"
-ary sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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US: /ˌrɛvəˈluːʃəˌnɛr.i/; UK: /ˌrɛvəˈluːʃənəri/; AU: /ˌɹɛvəˈluːʃənəri/. Primary stress falls on the fourth syllable in the sequence (re-ve-lu-), with secondary stress on the third. Break as re-vo-lu-tion-ar-y, pronouncing the -tion- as /ʃən/ and keeping the final -ary with a light schwa. Listen to a native model to capture the rhythm: see Pronounce resources or Forvo for authentic audio examples.
Common errors include: misplacing the primary stress (often stressing -lu- or -tion- instead of the fourth syllable); mispronouncing the /ʃ/ as /s/ or /tʃ/, and over-articulating the final -ary as /-æri/ instead of /-əri/. Correct by practicing the exact /ˌrɛvəˈluːʃəˌnɛri/ (US) or /ˌrɛvəˈluːʃənəri/ (UK) sequences and using minimal pairs to center the rhythm on the -lu- and -ʃə- portions.
US tends to be rhotic, with a clear /r/ and a longer /uː/ in -luː-, emphasizing the /ˌrɛvəˈluː-/. UK typically has non-rhotic r-lessness in some varieties and a shorter, clipped /ə/ in -əˈnaɹi/; AUS blends rhotic tendencies with a slightly broader vowels, often maintaining /ɜː/ in some speakers. Across registers, vowel quality and pace shift; rely on a native speaker model for precise vowel timing in each region.
It challenges by containing multiple syllables with varied stress: re-vo-lu-tion-ary, a complex sequence of vowels (/ɪ/ downbeat then /uː/ in -luː-), a /ʃ/ sound in -ʃə-, and the suffix -nəri. The combination of a three-consonant cluster before -tion- and the trailing -ary adds cadence complexity. Practice breaking into small chunks, maintaining steady pacing, and using a model with the correct IPA to guide mouth positions.
A unique aspect is the sequence around -luː-ʃə- that combines a long /uː/ and a palato-alveolar /ʃ/ before a reduced syllable. Ensuring the /ʃ/ isn't conflated with /ʃn/ or /tʃ/ requires focused tongue blade positioning and air flow. Visualize 'lOO-shuh' to keep /luː/ strong yet not overly prolonged, and keep the /n/ inside the -əni- onset. Use a steady, percussive beat to anchor the rhythm.
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