revive

verb

re·​vive ri-ˈvīv 

revived; reviving

intransitive verb

: to return to consciousness or life : become active or flourishing again

Business is beginning to revive.

transitive verb

1

: to restore to consciousness, life, or healthy condition

doctors trying to revive a patient

Water revived the wilting flowers.

2

: to restore from a depressed, inactive, or unused state : bring back

The movie revived her career.

3

: to renew in the mind or memory

Visiting the old house revived childhood memories.

revivable

ri-ˈvī-və-bəl 

adjective

reviver noun

Synonyms of revive

• resurrect
• renew

Examples of revive in a Sentence

The success of the movie has revived her career.

The government is trying to revive the economy.

Our spirits were revived by his enthusiasm.

The store's business is beginning to revive.

The family is trying to revive an old custom.

He has decided to revive Molière's Tartuffe.

Recent Examples on the Web

Democratic gains in six state governments could revive an effort to shift presidential campaigns away from battleground states and toward winning the national popular vote. — Nicholas Riccardi, Los Angeles Times, 10 Nov. 2026

Walliams and Lucas had made attempts to revive the BBC comedy and even spoke to Netflix about a new series in 2020. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 10 Nov. 2026

After the original Bay Theatre closed in 1978, the Pacific Palisades went roughly 40 years without a movie theater of its own, until Caruso revived the name as part of Palisades Village in 2018. — Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 10 Nov. 2026

By reviving oil production and improving the country’s economic prospects, the agreement could also help the Venezuelan government restructure its crippling debt. — Ian Bremmer, Time, 10 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French revivre, from Latin revivere to live again, from re- + vivere to live — more at quick entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for revive

• alive
• archive
• arrive
• beehive
• connive
• contrive
• deprive
• derive
• khedive
• survive
• dive
• drive

Kids Definition

revive

verb

re·​vive ri-ˈvīv 

revived; reviving

1

: to make (someone or something) strong, active, or healthy again

2

: to bring back into use or popularity

trying to revive an old custom

reviver noun

Medical Definition

revive

verb

re·​vive ri-ˈvīv 

revived; reviving

intransitive verb

: to return to consciousness or life

transitive verb

1

: to restore to consciousness or life

2

: to restore from a depressed, inactive, or unused state

revivable

-ˈvī-və-bəl 

adjective

Legal Definition

revive

transitive verb

re·​vive ri-ˈvīv 

revived; reviving

: to restore the force, effect, or validity of (as a contract, will, or action)