revolution

revolution — 名詞

1. an event where the people of a country join together to push out their leaders a

1.名詞B2
釋義

革命

以武力或抗爭推翻政府

an event where the people of a country join together to push out their leaders and build a new form of government, typically through armed struggle or widespread protest

例句

The country's revolution in 1989 led to the end of a long military dictatorship.

該國在1989年的革命終結了長期的軍事獨裁政權。

revolution + in + [year] for historical events

Christopher's grandfather was a doctor who treated wounded soldiers during the revolution.

Christopher 的祖父是革命期間救治傷兵的醫生。

同義詞
  • uprising

    more sudden and often shorter-lived than a full revolution

  • revolt

    emphasises the act of refusing to accept authority, not necessarily leading to a new system

  • coup

    typically a small group (often the military) seizes power, not a mass movement

反義詞

文法句型

revolution + against + [entity]

revolution + in + [place]

用法筆記

When used as an uncountable noun, revolution refers to the concept or process of revolutionary change rather than a specific event: 'The country was on the brink of revolution.'

常見錯誤

❌The French Revolution happened in 1789 and ended the monarchy.
✅The French Revolution took place between 1789 and 1799, ending the monarchy.
💡'happened' is too vague for describing a major historical process; use 'took place' or 'broke out'.
❌He started a revolution against his boss.
✅He led a revolt against his boss.
💡'revolution' implies large-scale political change, not a workplace dispute.

2. a complete and far-reaching shift in how people think about or carry out a parti

2.名詞B2
釋義

重大革新

技術或觀念帶來的徹底改變

a complete and far-reaching shift in how people think about or carry out a particular activity, typically brought about by new discoveries or tools

例句

The invention of the smartphone sparked a revolution in how people communicate with one another.

智慧型手機的發明引發了人們溝通方式的革命性變革。

revolution + in + [activity/field] for transformative change

Rania believes that online education has started a quiet revolution in rural communities across Southeast Asia.

Rania 認為線上教育已在東南亞的鄉村社區掀起一場寧靜的革命。

同義詞
  • transformation

    less dramatic; can happen slowly over time without the suddenness implied by revolution

  • upheaval

    emphasises the disruptive, unsettled nature of the change; more negative in tone

  • paradigm shift

    more formal and intellectual; used mainly in academic or scientific contexts

反義詞
  • stagnation

    a period where nothing new happens or improves

文法句型

revolution + in + [field/activity]

用法筆記

This sense is typically modified by an adjective or a prepositional phrase beginning with 'in' that names the field affected: 'the industrial revolution', 'a revolution in medicine'.

常見錯誤

❌The industrial revolution happened when machines were invented.
✅The Industrial Revolution began in the late 18th century when machines started replacing hand tools in factories.
💡Use 'began' / 'took place' / 'transformed' instead of the vague 'happened'.

3. the continuous movement of one object around another object or around a central

3.名詞B2
釋義

環繞；公轉

天體繞行另一天體的運動

the continuous movement of one object around another object or around a central point, following a curved path

例句

The revolution of the Earth around the Sun takes approximately three hundred and sixty-five days.

地球繞太陽公轉一圈大約需要三百六十五天。

revolution + of + [body] + around + [central body]

Jisoo built a model showing the revolution of the Moon around the Earth using wire and clay.

Jisoo 用鐵絲和黏土做了一個模型，展示月球繞地球公轉的情形。

同義詞
  • orbit

    specifically the curved path of a celestial object around another; more technical

  • circling

    less formal and less precise; describes the action of going around something

文法句型

revolution + around + [point/body]

revolution + of + [body]

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 4 (ONE FULL TURN): this sense describes continuous orbital or circular movement as a process, while sense 4 counts individual completed turns. In astronomy, 'revolution' refers to orbital motion around another body, while 'rotation' refers to spinning on an axis.

常見錯誤

❌The Earth makes one revolution on its axis every 24 hours.
✅The Earth makes one rotation on its axis every 24 hours, and one revolution around the Sun every 365 days.
💡'Revolution' is movement around another object; 'rotation' is spinning on an axis.

4. a single full turn of an object around its centre, ending exactly where it began

4.名詞B2
釋義

一圈；一轉

物體繞中心完整旋轉一圈

a single full turn of an object around its centre, ending exactly where it began

例句

The car engine was running at three thousand revolutions per minute when Tamar pressed the accelerator.

Tamar 踩下油門時，汽車引擎轉速達到了每分鐘三千轉。

[number] + revolutions per minute (rpm) — common in mechanics

Each revolution of the bicycle wheel moves the bike forward by about two metres on flat ground.

自行車輪每轉一圈，在平地上大約前進兩公尺。

同義詞
  • rotation

    often used interchangeably for a single complete turn around a central axis

  • turn

    less formal and less precise than 'revolution'; could also mean a partial turn

文法句型

[number] + revolution(s)

revolution + per + [time unit]

用法筆記

Commonly used with numbers and time units, especially with the abbreviation 'rpm' (revolutions per minute) to describe engine or motor speed. This sense is always countable.

常見錯誤

❌The wheel makes a rotation around its centre.
✅The wheel makes a revolution around its centre.
💡When describing the full turn of a wheel returning to its starting point, 'revolution' is the more precise term in mechanics.