renovate

[ren-uh-veyt]

verb (used with object)

renovated, renovating 

1. to restore to good condition; make new or as if new again; repair.

2. Archaic.,  to reinvigorate; refresh; revive.

adjective

1. Archaic.,  renovated.

renovate

/ ˈrɛnəˌveɪt /

verb

1. to restore (something) to good condition

   to renovate paintings

2. to revive or refresh (one's spirits, health, etc)

Other Word Forms

• renovatable adjective
• renovatingly adverb
• renovation noun
• renovative adjective
• renovator noun
• unrenovated adjective
• unrenovative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of renovate¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English (adjective), from Latin renovātus (past participle of renovāre ), equivalent to re- re- + novus new + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of renovate¹

C16: from Latin renovāre , from _re- + novāre to make new, from novus _new

Synonym Study

See renew.

Example Sentences

The Medina Country Club, a private club in Medina, Ohio, enlisted golf architect Dave Zinkand to renovate its practice facilities and design a short, reversible course that is scheduled to open in October.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Starbucks said it aims to start adding stores over the next year and renovate more than 1,000 locations to try to improve their atmosphere.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Shortly after purchasing the house, Puleo renovated the kitchen and bathroom, opened up the wall between the two spaces and widened the kitchen door.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It discovered that he had claimed £10,000 to renovate his London flat.

Read more on BBC

The famous abode, originally built in 1959 with late modernist architecture, was renovated decades after “The Brady Bunch” ended in 1974.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• clean 
• overhaul 
• refit 
• refurbish 
• rehabilitate 
• remake 
• remodel 
• repair 
• restore 
• revamp 
• revitalize 
• revive 
• spruce up 
• update 

When To Use

What does renovate mean?

Renovate most commonly means to make improvements or changes to a structure, especially to the inside of a home or other kind of building.For example, a homeowner might renovate a room in their house by painting it and getting new flooring. This is often much more extensive: renovating a kitchen can involve getting new cabinets and appliances as well as new painting and new flooring, perhaps even a new layout.Some people renovate their homes themselves, while others hire a contractor to do it.The process of renovating is called renovation. The word renovation can also refer to such a project, as in This renovation is going way over budget. The word renovated can be used as an adjective to describe spaces that have been improved in this way, as in a newly renovated kitchen. More generally, renovate means to restore something to good condition—to repair or refurbish it. However, outside of the context of home improvement, the terms restore, refurbish, and repair are more often used.Renovate can also mean to reinvigorate, refresh, or revive, but this sense of the word isn’t commonly used either.Example: I’m planning to renovate the bathroom with new tile and a new vanity.