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Revive

v. hopeful, energetic register not recorded

What it means

Meaning 1

To restore energy, consciousness, strength, or activity.

Reach for it when describing a marked return after weakness, exhaustion, or dormancy

Cool rain revived the transplanted trees.

Meaning 2

To bring an old practice, work, memory, or interest back into use or attention.

Reach for it when describing deliberate return of something valued

Young musicians revived a nearly forgotten harvest song.

Words to choose between 9

By register, from playful at the top to literary at the bottom, and by meaning across. Tap a word to see when it fits.
Meaning 1Meaning 2
warm
  • Revive (this word)
professional
literary
Register not recorded

Meaning 1: To restore energy, consciousness, strength, or activity.

  • warm

    refresh

    Fits when a mild lift in energy is enough

    Careful Refresh understates a serious revival.

  • warm

    rejuvenate

    Fits when freshness and youthful vitality return

    Careful Rejuvenate is less appropriate for unconsciousness.

  • professional

    restore

    Fits when returning a former sound condition matters

    Careful Restore is steadier and less dramatic.

  • professional

    resuscitate

    Fits when restoring breathing or consciousness is medically precise

    Careful Resuscitate is too clinical for plants, morale, or trade.

  • Register not recorded

    rally

    Fits when renewed inner effort drives recovery

    Careful Rally can also mean gathering supporters.

Meaning 2: To bring an old practice, work, memory, or interest back into use or attention.

  • professional

    reintroduce

    Fits when putting something back into use is precise

    Careful Reintroduction does not show that interest revived.

  • professional

    renew

    Fits when giving fresh duration or purpose is central

    Careful Renew does not imply prior disappearance.

  • literary

    rekindle

    Fits when feeling or interest becomes warm again

    Careful Rekindle is metaphorical and may imply romance.

  • literary

    resurrect

    Fits when bringing a lost custom or work back deserves drama

    Careful Resurrect carries religious force and can overstate the return.

Opposites 4

  • exhaust
  • suppress
  • retire
  • forget

Common phrases 4

  • revive a patient

    The trained team worked to revive a patient before transport.

  • revive interest

    A hands-on demonstration helped revive interest in the craft.

  • revive a tradition

    The community chose to revive a tradition without inventing its history.

  • revive the plants

    Moving the pots into shade should revive the plants.

Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Naomi Persephone Amethyst, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated