restoration
rehs-tuh-RAY-shuhn
Restoration (noun) means the process of returning something to its original or an earlier good condition. Example: “The restoration of the old painting revealed bright colours hidden under the dirt.”
noun
1
The process of returning something to its original or an earlier good condition.
"The restoration of the old painting revealed bright colours hidden under the dirt."
"The restoration of the old cathedral took nearly a decade."
"The classic car underwent a full restoration."
2
The bringing back of a former ruler, government, or system of power.
"The play is about the restoration of the king after years of exile."
"Some of the crowd celebrated the restoration of the old ruling family."
"Historians often refer to the Restoration of the English monarchy in 1660."
How to use restoration
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBringing something — a building, artwork, or even a government — back to how it used to be.
Common pairings
building restoration
full restoration
restoration project
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like restoration.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- restorations
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ of the old painting revealed bright colours hidden under the dirt.
Etymology
From Middle English restoracion, ultimately from Latin restauratio, tied to the verb restore.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for restoration
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for restoration →
Frequently asked questions
What does “restoration” mean?
The word “restoration” means the process of returning something to its original or an earlier good condition. In plain terms, bringing something — a building, artwork, or even a government — back to how it used to be.
How do you pronounce “restoration”?
“Restoration” is pronounced rehs-tuh-RAY-shuhn (/ɹɛstəˈɹeɪʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “restoration” in a sentence?
Here is “restoration” used in a sentence: “The restoration of the old cathedral took nearly a decade.”
What part of speech is “restoration”?
“Restoration” is a noun.
Where does the word “restoration” come from?
The word “restoration” comes from Latin. From Middle English restoracion, ultimately from Latin restauratio, tied to the verb restore.
Is “restoration” a common word?
“Restoration” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “restoration” have?
“Restoration” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the process of returning something to its original or an earlier good condition.
What is the difference between "restoration" and "renovation"?
Restoration aims to return something to its original condition, staying faithful to how it once was. Renovation focuses on repairing and modernizing, and may introduce new materials or updates rather than preserving the original.
What is the difference between "restoration" and "repair"?
A repair fixes a specific fault or broken part so something works again, while restoration is the fuller process of bringing an object or building back to its former good condition. Restoration often involves many repairs together with careful cleaning and renewal.
What is the difference between "restoration" and "reconstruction"?
Restoration works with what already exists, returning it to an earlier state, whereas reconstruction rebuilds something that has been lost or destroyed. You restore a faded painting, but you reconstruct a building that has burned down.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include restoration:
