restore

[ ri-stawr, -stohr ]
See synonyms for restore on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object),re·stored, re·stor·ing.
  1. to bring back into existence, use, or the like; reestablish: to restore order.

  2. to bring back to a former, original, or normal condition, as a building, statue, or painting.

  1. to bring back to a state of health, soundness, or vigor.

  2. to put back to a former place, or to a former position, rank, etc.: to restore the king to his throne.

  3. to give back; make return or restitution of (anything taken away or lost).

  4. to reproduce or reconstruct (an ancient building, extinct animal, etc.) in the original state.

Origin of restore

1
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English restoren, from Old French restorer, from Latin restaurāre;see re-, store

synonym study For restore

2. See renew.

Other words for restore

Other words from restore

  • re·stor·a·ble, adjective
  • re·stor·a·ble·ness, noun
  • re·stor·er, noun
  • qua·si-re·stored, adjective
  • self-re·stor·ing, adjective
  • un·re·stor·a·ble, adjective
  • un·re·stored, adjective
  • well-re·stored, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use restore in a sentence

  • However, on reaching Spain, the magic of the Emperor's personality soon restored the vigour and prestige of the French arms.

    Napoleon's Marshals | R. P. Dunn-Pattison
  • And sure enough when Sunday came, and the pencil was restored to him, he promptly showed nurse his picture.

    Children's Ways | James Sully
  • The deposed ruler plotted and planned all kinds of schemes whereby he might be restored to his old position of authority.

    Our Little Korean Cousin | H. Lee M. Pike
  • Would it have been restored, had the luckless speculator himself remained?

  • In January, 1820, his Marshal's bton and his other honours were restored to him, and he entered the field of politics.

    Napoleon's Marshals | R. P. Dunn-Pattison

British Dictionary definitions for restore

restore

/ (rɪˈstɔː) /


verb(tr)
  1. to return (something, esp a work of art or building) to an original or former condition

  2. to bring back to health, good spirits, etc

  1. to return (something lost, stolen, etc) to its owner

  2. to reintroduce or re-enforce: to restore discipline

  3. to reconstruct (an extinct animal, former landscape, etc)

Origin of restore

1
C13: from Old French, from Latin rēstaurāre to rebuild, from re- + -staurāre, as in instaurāre to renew

Derived forms of restore

  • restorable, adjective
  • restorableness, noun
  • restorer, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012