diff --git a/mercurial/commands.py b/mercurial/commands.py
--- a/mercurial/commands.py
+++ b/mercurial/commands.py
@@ -2273,7 +2273,10 @@ def rename(ui, repo, *pats, **opts):
         del wlock
 
 def revert(ui, repo, *pats, **opts):
-    """revert files or dirs to their states as of some revision
+    """restore individual files or dirs to an earlier state
+
+    (use update -r to check out earlier revisions, revert does not
+    change the working dir parents)
 
     With no revision specified, revert the named files or directories
     to the contents they had in the parent of the working directory.
@@ -2282,12 +2285,9 @@ def revert(ui, repo, *pats, **opts):
     working directory has two parents, you must explicitly specify the
     revision to revert to.
 
-    Modified files are saved with a .orig suffix before reverting.
-    To disable these backups, use --no-backup.
-
     Using the -r option, revert the given files or directories to their
     contents as of a specific revision. This can be helpful to "roll
-    back" some or all of a change that should not have been committed.
+    back" some or all of an earlier  change.
 
     Revert modifies the working directory.  It does not commit any
     changes, or change the parent of the working directory.  If you
@@ -2301,6 +2301,9 @@ def revert(ui, repo, *pats, **opts):
     If names are given, all files matching the names are reverted.
 
     If no arguments are given, no files are reverted.
+
+    Modified files are saved with a .orig suffix before reverting.
+    To disable these backups, use --no-backup.
     """
 
     if opts["date"]:
@@ -3085,7 +3088,7 @@ table = {
            _('forcibly copy over an existing managed file')),
          ] + walkopts + dryrunopts,
          _('hg rename [OPTION]... SOURCE... DEST')),
-    "^revert":
+    "revert":
         (revert,
          [('a', 'all', None, _('revert all changes when no arguments given')),
           ('d', 'date', '', _('tipmost revision matching date')),