revive
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to activate, set in motion, or take up again; renew.
to revive old feuds.
- Synonyms:
- reactivate
-
to restore to life or consciousness.
We revived him with artificial respiration.
- Synonyms:
- resuscitate, reanimate, revitalize
- Antonyms:
- kill
-
to put on or show (an old play or motion picture) again.
-
to make operative or valid again.
- Synonyms:
- reactivate
-
to bring back into notice, use, or currency.
to revive a subject of discussion.
-
to quicken or renew in the mind; bring back.
to revive memories.
-
to reanimate or cheer (the spirit, heart, etc., or a person).
-
Chemistry. to restore or reduce to the natural or uncombined state, as a metal.
verb (used without object)
-
to return to life, consciousness, vigor, strength, or a flourishing condition.
-
to recover from financial depression.
-
to be quickened, restored, or renewed, as hope, confidence, suspicions, or memories.
-
to return to notice, use, or currency, as a subject, practice, or doctrine.
-
to become operative or valid again.
-
Chemistry. to recover the natural or uncombined state, as a metal.
verb
-
to bring or be brought back to life, consciousness, or strength; resuscitate or be resuscitated
revived by a drop of whisky
-
to give or assume new vitality; flourish again or cause to flourish again
-
to make or become operative or active again
the youth movement was revived
-
to bring or come into use or currency again
to revive a language
-
(tr) to take up again
he revived his old hobby
-
to bring or come back to mind
-
(tr) theatre to mount a new production of (an old play)
Other Word Forms
- revivability noun
- revivable adjective
- revivably adverb
- reviver noun
- reviving adjective
- revivingly adverb
- unrevivable adjective
- unrevived adjective
Etymology
Origin of revive
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English reviven, from Latin revīvere “to live again,” from re- re- + vīvere “to live” ( cf. vital)
Explanation
To revive something is to provide it with new energy or life, like when you revive a drooping plant by watering it, or when you revive a boring party by breaking out the karaoke machine. Revive comes from the Latin roots re-, meaning “again,” and vivere, meaning “to live.” So, the word revive means “live again.” While the possibility of bringing folks back from the dead isn’t something we’re qualified to comment on, we will note that revive can be used in a sense that’s very close to its literal meaning; specifically, revive can mean “cause someone to regain consciousness.”
Vocabulary lists containing revive
A Long Walk to Water
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ACT Vocabulary List
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Out of the Dust
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The unblocked billions would help revive Hungary's ailing economy, he added.
From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026
He also advocated for “modern forest management,” removing fuel from forests, as a way to protect against wildfires, reduce carbon emissions from fire, and revive the state’s timber industry.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2026
Meanwhile, talks among IMO members this week are focused on a different issue: efforts to revive negotiations on an ambitious plan to decarbonise the global shipping industry.
From Barron's • Apr. 27, 2026
Meanwhile, Intel has been striving to revive its foundry business, which manufactures chips for external customers.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 25, 2026
Having failed to revive the great collaboration of the revolutionary era, Adams and Jefferson went their separate ways with different intimates.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
