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

Negotiations on both fell apart earlier this month but could still be revived in the lame duck session. — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 30 Sep. 2026

The administration has also intervened on behalf of Sable Offshore, allowing the company to revive a long-dormant pipeline off the coast of Santa Barbara despite objections from California officials and regulators. — Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026

Founding members Scherzinger, Wyatt and Roberts revived PCD earlier this year following a brief reunion as a quintet in 2019. — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 28 Sep. 2026

The full cycle of forming a spore and then reviving it came to nearly 10 billion ATP molecules, one of the most expensive things a bacterium ever does. — Canan Karakoç, The Conversation, 28 Sep. 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)