revival

American  

[ri-vahy-vuhl] / rɪˈvaɪ vəl /

noun

1. restoration to life, consciousness, vigor, strength, etc.

2. restoration to use, acceptance, or currency.

   the revival of old customs.

3. a new production of an old play.

4. a showing of an old motion picture.

5. an awakening, in a church or community, of interest in and care for matters relating to personal religion.

6. an evangelistic service or a series of services for the purpose of effecting a religious awakening.

   to hold a revival.

7. the act of reviving.

8. the state of being revived.

9. Law. the reestablishment of legal force and effect.

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revival British  

/ rɪˈvaɪvəl /

noun

1. the act or an instance of reviving or the state of being revived

2. an instance of returning to life or consciousness; restoration of vigour or vitality

3. a renewed use, acceptance of, or interest in (past customs, styles, etc)

   a revival of learning

   the Gothic revival

4. a new production of a play that has not been recently performed

5. a reawakening of faith or renewal of commitment to religion

6. an evangelistic meeting or service intended to effect such a reawakening in those present

7. the re-establishment of legal validity, as of a judgment, contract, etc

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revival Cultural  

1. In Christianity, an energetic meeting intended to “revive” religious faith. Common among fundamentalists, these meetings are characterized by impassioned preaching and singing.

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Other Word Forms

• nonrevival
  noun
• prerevival
  noun

Etymology

Origin of revival

First recorded in 1645–55; revive + -al ²

Explanation

If something experiences a revival, that means it’s once again popular or important. If a news story mentions a revival in the technology industry, that means the industry, having gone through a slump, is once again thriving. Revival literally means "come back to life." An ER doctor might perform a revival of someone whose heart has stopped. We usually use it to mean "returned to glory, importance, or strength." Fresh paint and new flowerbeds might mean your neighborhood is experiencing a revival. If you don't like spiky hair, you may cringe at the revival of the mohawk in fashion magazines. Revival has a religious sense too, referring to a meeting that reawakens religious excitement and passion.

Example Sentences

When Friedlich last month went to see “Death of a Salesman,” a high-power revival starring Nathan Lane and Laurie Metcalf, the woman next to him kept laughing at odd moments.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

But it feels especially important now with the revival of diet culture and a newfound surge in weight-loss medication usage.

From Salon • May 7, 2026

Tokyo's Nikkei index soared Thursday to lead another strong rally across Asia stocks, fuelled by growing optimism the Iran war is close to ending and the revival of demand for all things AI.

From Barron's • May 7, 2026

The FA's Staffordshire base opened in 2012 and has been credited with playing a key role in the subsequent revival of England men's and women's teams.

From BBC • May 6, 2026

Ambudrones began to descend from above, grasping his victims and spiriting them away to the nearest revival center.

From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman

Related Words

• recovery
• rejuvenation
• renaissance
• renewal
• restoration
• resurgence
• resurrection
• revitalization