Revive: meaning, definitions and examples

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revive

 

[ rɪˈvaɪv ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

bringing something back to life

To revive means to bring something back to life or consciousness. This can refer to a person who has fainted or a plant that has withered. Reviving can also mean to rejuvenate or restore something to its former state.

Synonyms

reanimate, rejuvenate, renew, resuscitate.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
revive

This word is used when bringing something back to life, activity, or consciousness. It can be used for people, ideas, traditions, etc.

  • The doctors worked hard to revive the patient.
  • The festival helped revive interest in traditional crafts.
resuscitate

Usually used in a medical context to bring someone back to consciousness or life after they have stopped breathing or their heart has stopped. It has a strongly clinical connotation.

  • The lifeguard performed CPR to resuscitate the drowning victim.
  • Emergency responders tried to resuscitate the heart attack patient.
rejuvenate

Used when making someone or something look or feel younger, fresher, or more energetic. Often used in beauty, health, and wellness contexts.

  • The spa treatment helped her rejuvenate her skin.
  • A long vacation can rejuvenate the mind and body.
renew

Typically used to indicate making something new again or starting something over. It can be applied to contracts, relationships, memberships, nature, etc.

  • They decided to renew their wedding vows.
  • I need to renew my library card.
reanimate

Mostly used in a medical or fantasy context where someone is brought back to life or made alive again. Has a more technical or fictional connotation.

  • In the movie, the scientist tried to reanimate a dead body.
  • The paramedics worked tirelessly to reanimate the unconscious man.

Examples of usage

  • He tried to revive the patient by performing CPR.
  • The rain helped to revive the wilting flowers in the garden.
  • After a long rest, she felt revived and ready to tackle the day.
Context #2 | Verb

renewing interest or attention

To revive can also mean to renew interest or attention in something. This could be a revival of a classic play, a revival of an old tradition, or a revival of a long-forgotten trend.

Synonyms

reawaken, reignite, rekindle, revitalize.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
revive

This is generally used when something is brought back to life or consciousness, or when an activity or trend is started again after a period of decline.

  • They applied CPR to revive him
  • The city's historic district was revived by new businesses
rekindle

This is often used in the context of relationships or emotions, implying the renewal of feelings or interests that had faded.

  • They went on a trip to rekindle their romance
  • Her visit rekindled my interest in photography
reawaken

This implies making someone remember or feel something they had forgotten or no longer cared about.

  • Seeing her old friends reawakened her childhood memories
  • The book reawakened public interest in the historical event
revitalize

This signifies giving new life, vigor, or vitality to something, often used in the context of areas, projects, or organizations.

  • The new park program aims to revitalize the neighborhood
  • The company hired a new CEO to revitalize its operations
reignite

This is used when something that had lost its energy or intensity is sparked again, often related to passions, debates, or conflicts.

  • Their argument reignited old tensions
  • The coach's inspiring speech reignited the team's spirit

Examples of usage

  • The company needed to revive its marketing strategies to attract new customers.
  • The film's success led to a revival of interest in the director's work.

Translations

Translations of the word "revive" in other languages:

🇵🇹 reviver

🇮🇳 पुनर्जीवित करना

🇩🇪 wiederbeleben

🇮🇩 menghidupkan kembali

🇺🇦 оживити

🇵🇱 ożywiać

🇯🇵 復活させる

🇫🇷 ranimer

🇪🇸 revivir

🇹🇷 canlandırmak

🇰🇷 소생시키다

🇸🇦 إحياء

🇨🇿 oživit

🇸🇰 oživiť

🇨🇳 复活

🇸🇮 oživiti

🇮🇸 endurvekja

🇰🇿 қайта тірілту

🇬🇪 აღორძინება

🇦🇿 diriltmək

🇲🇽 revivir

Etymology

The word 'revive' originates from the Latin word 'revivere', which is a combination of 're-' (again) and 'vivere' (to live). It first appeared in English in the late 15th century. The concept of reviving has been present throughout history, from stories of mythical creatures being brought back to life to medical advancements in resuscitation techniques.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #10,121, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.