restore

verb

re·​store ri-ˈstȯr 

restored; restoring

transitive verb

1

: give back, return

2

: to put or bring back into existence or use

3

: to bring back to or put back into a former or original state : renew

4

: to put again in possession of something

restorer noun

Synonyms

• freshen
• recharge
• recreate
• refresh
• refreshen
• regenerate
• rejuvenate
• renew
• repair
• resuscitate
• revitalize
• revive
• revivify

Choose the Right Synonym for restore

renew, restore, refresh, renovate, rejuvenate mean to make like new.

renew implies a restoration of what had become faded or disintegrated so that it seems like new.

efforts to renew the splendor of the old castle

restore implies a return to an original state after depletion or loss.

restored a fine piece of furniture

refresh implies the supplying of something necessary to restore lost strength, animation, or power.

a refreshing drink

renovate suggests a renewing by cleansing, repairing, or rebuilding.

the apartment has been entirely renovated

rejuvenate suggests the restoration of youthful vigor, powers, or appearance.

the change in jobs rejuvenated her spirits

Examples of restore in a Sentence

The police restored law and order.

The government needs to restore confidence in the economy.

an antique car that is being carefully restored

Recent Examples on the Web

This story was originally published hours before the agreement to restore Sam Altman as OpenAI CEO and has been updated to reflect this. —Steven Levy, WIRED, 22 Nov. 2023

The 4-year and 8-month agreements also restore cost-of-living allowances that boost total compensation by 33%. —Keith Naughton, Fortune, 21 Nov. 2023

Ideal for those who are keen on maintaining or restoring their hair’s natural beauty, this oil is a luxurious addition to any hair care routine. —Mia Meltzer, Rolling Stone, 21 Nov. 2023

The interior spaces were dismantled and reconfigured, and the façade was restored to its original design. —Mark David, Robb Report, 21 Nov. 2023

Salima Naji, an architect and anthropologist who led the project to restore the Oufella fortress in Agadir and has also been at the forefront of efforts to promote traditional ways of building in the Atlas Mountains, agrees. —Aida Alami, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2023

The exodus came the day internet and phone service was restored to the Gaza Strip, ending a telecommunications outage that forced the United Nations to shut down critical aid deliveries. —Najib Jobain, Bassem Mroue, and Samy Magdy, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Nov. 2023

Phone and internet services in parts of the Gaza Strip were partially restored Friday night after a limited quantity of fuel for generators was provided, according to NetBlocks, a group that tracks internet outages. —Wafaa Shurafa, arkansasonline.com, 18 Nov. 2023

His emotions were overridden and the old dress code restored. —Peggy Noonan, WSJ, 17 Nov. 2023

See More

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French restorer, from Latin restaurare to renew, rebuild, alteration of instaurare to renew

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

restore

verb

re·​store ri-ˈstō(ə)r 

-ˈstȯ(ə)r

restored; restoring

1

: return entry 1 sense 5

restored the purse to its owner

2

: to put or bring back into existence or use

restore harmony after an argument

3

: to bring back to or put back into an earlier or original state

restore an old house

4

: to put again in possession of something

restore the king to the throne

restorable

-ˈstōr-ə-bəl

-ˈstȯr-

adjective

restorer noun

Medical Definition

restore

transitive verb

re·​store ri-ˈstō(ə)r, -ˈstȯ(ə)r 

restored; restoring

: to bring back to or put back into a former or original state

a tooth restored with an inlay