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 resort’s inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places coincided with its revival in the 1980s—a placard near the entrance provides a timeline of its entire history, which began in 1883. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 June 2026

Chinese workers’ literature is undergoing a revival in the gig-economy era, with a raft of work coming out about, and by, working-class labor. —Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 2 June 2026

The Caravan Court Hotel, Valencia Hotel Collection is a revival of the luxury lodges that used to line highways in the heyday of car travel. —Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 June 2026

In fact, a Sondheim revival is precisely the kind of work that doesn’t feed the parasocial, fandom-as-identity machine that powers contemporary pop. —Jeff Benjamin, Forbes.com, 1 June 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