revival

noun

re·​viv·​al ri-ˈvī-vəl 

1

: an act or instance of reviving : the state of being revived: such as

a

: renewed attention to or interest in something

b

: a new presentation or publication of something old

c(1)

: a period of renewed religious interest

(2)

: an often highly emotional evangelistic meeting or series of meetings

2

: restoration of force, validity, or effect (as to a contract)

Synonyms of revival

• resurgence
• rebirth
• renewal

Examples of revival in a Sentence

a revival of biographical writing

a revival in Gothic architecture

Fashions from the 1970s are enjoying a revival.

The city is showing signs of revival.

There are three musical revivals on Broadway this season.

The opera company is staging a revival of Verdi's Don Carlos.

Recent Examples on the Web

The announcements follow Rudin’s return to Broadway producing last season with Death of A Salesman, starring Laurie Metcalf and Nathan Lane, which won six Tony Awards, including best revival of a play, as well as Little Bear Ridge Road, last fall. — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026

Sam Rockwell, Marin Ireland, and Alfred Molina lead a buzzy revival of the Arthur Miller play — about a Red Hook longshoreman whose protectiveness toward his teenage niece metastasizes into violent obsession — at, of all places, La MaMa. — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026

For the uninitiated, bootcut jeans have made a major comeback, thanks to the revival of Western fashion. — Kaitlin Clapinski, InStyle, 8 Sep. 2026

But the real reason the key indexes have stayed so close to record highs is the revival in the shares of several of the largest tech platforms. — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing revival

• revival meeting

Rhymes for revival

• archival
• arrival
• survival
• conjunctival
• rival
• subconjunctival

Kids Definition

revival

noun

re·​viv·​al ri-ˈvī-vəl 

1

: a reviving of interest (as in art, literature, or religion)

2

: a new presentation or publication (as of a book, play, or movie)

3

: a new growth or increase

a revival of business

4

: a meeting or series of meetings conducted by a preacher to arouse religious emotions or to make converts

Legal Definition

revival

noun

re·​vi·​val ri-ˈvī-vəl 

: an act or instance of reviving