revive
rih-VYV
Revive (verb) means to bring someone back to consciousness or restore them to health. Example: “Paramedics managed to revive the swimmer on the beach.”
verb
1
To bring someone back to consciousness or restore them to health.
"Paramedics managed to revive the swimmer on the beach."
"The doctor worked hard to revive the man who had fainted in the heat."
"A splash of cold water helped to revive her after she passed out."
2
To bring something back to activity, popularity, or use after a period of decline.
"The new manager revived the failing business within a year."
"The film revived interest in the original novel."
"Volunteers hope to revive the village fete, which stopped running several years ago."
How to use revive
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo bring back to life, consciousness, or activity — a person, a business, an interest, anything that had faded.
Common pairings
revive the economy
revive interest in something
revive a patient
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Word forms
- Plural
- revives
- Third person singular
- revives
- Past tense
- revived
- Archaic forms
- revivest, revivedst, reviveth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Paramedics managed to _____ the swimmer on the beach.
Etymology
From Late Middle English reviven, via Old French revivre, from Latin revivere, "to live again" — re- plus vivo, "to live".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for revive
See all rhymes for revive →Frequently asked questions
What does “revive” mean?
The word “revive” means to bring someone back to consciousness or restore them to health. In plain terms, to bring back to life, consciousness, or activity — a person, a business, an interest, anything that had faded.
How do you pronounce “revive”?
“Revive” is pronounced rih-VYV (/ɹɪˈvaɪ̯v/ in IPA).
How do you use “revive” in a sentence?
Here is “revive” used in a sentence: “Paramedics managed to revive the swimmer on the beach.”
What is the opposite of “revive”?
The opposite of “revive” — its antonyms — are deanimate, devitalize and devive.
What part of speech is “revive”?
“Revive” is a verb.
Where does the word “revive” come from?
The word “revive” comes from Latin. From Late Middle English reviven, via Old French revivre, from Latin revivere, "to live again" — re- plus vivo, "to live".
Is “revive” a common word?
“Revive” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “revive” have?
“Revive” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to bring someone back to consciousness or restore them to health.
What is the difference between revive and resuscitate?
Revive is a general term for bringing someone back to consciousness or restoring them to health, or bringing something back to activity after decline, while resuscitate is a more specific medical term used almost exclusively for reviving someone from unconsciousness or cardiac arrest. Resuscitate is typically reserved for emergency medical situations, whereas revive has wider everyday use.
What is the difference between revive and restore?
Revive emphasizes bringing something back to activity or life after a period of decline or unconsciousness, such as reviving a tradition or reviving a patient, while restore emphasizes returning something to an earlier, often better condition, such as restoring a painting. Revive focuses on renewed activity, while restore focuses on repaired condition.
Can revive be used for things other than people?
Yes, revive is commonly used for non-living things such as traditions, economies, trends, or interest, meaning to bring them back to activity or popularity after a period of decline. For example, a fashion trend or a struggling business can be revived just as a person can be revived medically.
