revive
Americanverb (used with object)
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revives,
present (3rd person singular)
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revived,
past participle, past
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reviving
present participle
-
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.
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to make operative or valid again.
- Synonyms:
- reactivate
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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).
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Chemistry. to restore or reduce to the natural or uncombined state, as a metal.
verb (used without object)
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revives,
present (3rd person singular)
-
revived,
past participle, past
-
reviving
present participle
-
to return to life, consciousness, vigor, strength, or a flourishing condition.
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to recover from financial depression.
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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.
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to become operative or valid again.
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Chemistry. to recover the natural or uncombined state, as a metal.
verb
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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
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to make or become operative or active again
the youth movement was revived
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to bring or come into use or currency again
to revive a language
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(tr) to take up again
he revived his old hobby
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to bring or come back to mind
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(tr) theatre to mount a new production of (an old play)
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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revivabilitynoun
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revivernoun
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revivableadjective
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revivingadjective
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unrevivableadjective
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unrevivedadjective
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revivablyadverb
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revivinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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revivesimple
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revivessimple
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have revivedperfect
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has revivedperfect
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am revivingprogressive
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are revivingprogressive
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is revivingprogressive
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have been revivingperfect progressive
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has been revivingperfect progressive
Past
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revivedsimple
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had revivedperfect
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was revivingprogressive
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were revivingprogressive
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had been revivingperfect progressive
Future
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.
See Examples For:
The LSE’s Charlie Walker said a collective effort across regulators, government and U.K. companies is working to revive London’s fortunes, but capital is the missing piece.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026
But over the past few weeks, prices have started moving higher once again, as concerns about inflation and the credibility of the Federal Reserve appear to be helping revive investor interest.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 2026
In the men's competition MI's men will be seeking to continue their tilt at top spot, while seventh-placed Spirit will be hoping to revive their season.
From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026
Just last month, Microsoft began layoffs of 20% of its Xbox employees as part of a sweeping reorganization to revive the company’s lagging games division.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026
“Then we’ll be able to revive those poor people in the hospital wing.”
From "Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets" by J. K. Rowling
Sheffield United's away kit revives a classic style worn by the Blades during the 1975-76 season.
From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026
With a healthy dose of RuPaul’s signature wit and enough drag queen-friendly lighting to combat Hollywood’s run of dimly lit features, the team revives the disaster spoof with stylish aplomb.
From Salon ● Jun. 11, 2026
The effort to establish a West Coast coal export terminal revives a fight that has played out repeatedly in recent years.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 4, 2026
Prices are rising at Netflix and Amazon, while Hulu revives ‘Malcolm in the Middle’ and HBO Max has new seasons of ‘Hacks’ and ‘Euphoria’
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 31, 2026
We are free at last, but here, just at the moment the gate swings open, and we can fly the coop, Tía Carmen's love revives our old homesickness.
From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez
Then, in the race’s final weeks, two other moderates dropped out and Crowley revived his campaign with the sitting Democratic governor’s endorsement.
From Slate ● Aug. 12, 2026
The investigation sputtered for decades because of a lack of evidence, but the cold case was revived with the publication in 2019 of Davis's memoirs.
From Barron's ● Aug. 10, 2026
That sense of autonomy shaped how she expresses herself online today, and she believes that a revived MySpace should avoid the algorithmic, pay-to-play dynamics that dominate modern platforms.
From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026
With Ovy, Karol revived the shadowy timbre of her joint Shakira track “TQG” into the new “Bebiendo Lágrimas,” a reggaeton song that adamantly rejects the notion of love.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026
Winnie revived, sniffing, and was able to ride the horse again, perched behind Mae.
From "Tuck Everlasting" by Natalie Babbit
However, India will need to think of a new industrial policy to focus on reviving overall manufacturing, he adds.
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026
Zapata Mijares said reviving the theater could also help nearby businesses.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026
The two rival leaders first met in December, when they signalled a fresh commitment to reviving the long-stalled peace process in the presence of Guterres's envoy Maria Angela Holguin.
From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026
In addition to the widespread downturn in demand for luxury goods, Burberry has also launched its own turnaround plan with the aim of reviving sales and reducing costs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
Had I decided to believe her, her pronouncement would have toppled my confidence all over again, reviving the old thrum of not enough, not enough.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
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.
