revive
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to activate, set in motion, or take up again; renew.
to revive old feuds.
- Synonyms:
- reactivate
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to restore to life or consciousness.
We revived him with artificial respiration.
- Synonyms:
- resuscitate, reanimate, revitalize
- Antonyms:
- kill
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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.
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to quicken or renew in the mind; bring back.
to revive memories.
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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.
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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
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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
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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” ( vital )
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 Winnemem Wintu Tribe hopes these salmon, exported more than a century ago, will revive the genetic diversity of the few remaining endangered salmon in the Sacramento River.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026
Although a major oil and gas producer, Iran sought to revive the project in the late 1980s to diversify its energy resources and reduce its dependence on fossil fuels for domestic consumption.
From Barron's • Apr. 4, 2026
He proposed investing $500 million to revive the business.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026
Mizuho Securities analyst Daniel O’Regan said in an email that software stocks were getting hit as Claude’s “expanded ‘computer‑use’ capabilities revive fears that AI agents could eventually bypass traditional software seats, pressuring long‑term pricing power.”
From MarketWatch • Mar. 24, 2026
She ran into the room next door to bring some spirits or other with which she could revive her mother from her fainting spell.
From "The Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka
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.
