review

The word “review” means a written or spoken evaluation of a book, film, product, or performance. In plain terms, either an assessment of something (like a film review), or the act of looking something over again carefully.

“Review” is pronounced rih-VYOO (/ɹɪˈvjuː/ in IPA).

Here is “review” used in a sentence: “The restaurant got a glowing review in the local paper.”

Depending on how it is used, “review” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “review” comes from Latin. From Old French reveue, "a looking back", from Latin revideo, "to see again" (re- + video, "to see"). A doublet of "revue".

“Review” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

“Review” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a written or spoken evaluation of a book, film, product, or performance.

A rating is a quick score — such as four stars out of five — that sums up an opinion in a single number or symbol. A review is the fuller written or spoken evaluation behind it, explaining the strengths and weaknesses. A review often includes a rating, but adds the reasoning a rating alone leaves out.

The two overlap, but a critique is usually more detailed and analytical, weighing a work's merits against professional or artistic standards. A review is often shorter and aimed at a general audience, helping them decide whether to read, watch, or buy something. Every critique is a kind of review, but not every review is a full critique.

Reviews come in many forms depending on what is being evaluated. Common types include book reviews, film and TV reviews, product reviews, restaurant reviews, and performance or theatre reviews. In academic and professional settings there are also peer reviews and performance reviews, each judging quality against relevant standards.

A film review is a clear example: a critic watches a movie and then writes an evaluation of its story, acting, and direction, often ending with a star rating and a recommendation. Similarly, a customer might post a product review online describing how well an item worked and whether they would buy it again.