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 Vermont native who was raised in Massachusetts joins performers Aaron Tveit and Nicholas Christopher who launched the Broadway revival with Michele. —Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2026

Joanna Levesque, known to most as JoJo, will replace Lea Michele as Florence Vassy in the Broadway revival of Chess at the Imperial Theatre. —Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Mar. 2026

Pop star and Broadway performer JoJo is stepping into one of the most coveted roles on Broadway, replacing Lea Michele as Florence Vassy in the revival of Chess at the Imperial Theatre. —Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2026

The Musical) will return to Broadway this June to succeed the exiting Lea Michele in Broadway’s Chess musical revival. —Greg Evans, Deadline, 25 Mar. 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