revive
Syllables: re·vive/ɹɪˈvaɪ̯v/
revive verb: to cause (a person or animal) to recover from a faint; to cause (a person or animal) to return to a state of consciousness.
Verb
revive (third-person singular simple present revives, present participle reviving, simple past and past participle revived)
- To cause (a person or animal) to recover from a faint; to cause (a person or animal) to return to a state of consciousness.
- Near-synonym: rescue
- Her grandmother said that if she lost consciousness, she would not want to be revived.
- Synonyms:
- rescue
- To bring (a person or animal which is dead) back to life.
- And in her cheekes the vermeill red did ſhevv / Like roſes in a bed of lilies ſhed, / The vvhich ambroſiall odours from them threvv, / And gazers ſence vvith double pleaſure fed, / Hable to heale the ſicke, and to reuiue the ded.1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto III”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 22, page 224
- [T]he King is vveary / Of daintie and ſuch picking greeuances, / For he hath found, to end one doubt by death, / Reuiues tvvo greater in the heires of life: […]c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Second Part of Henrie the Fourth, […], quarto edition, London: […] V[alentine] S[immes] for Andrew Wise, and William Aspley, published 1600...
- To cause (something) to recover from a state of decline, neglect, oblivion, or obscurity; to make (something) active or lively again; to reanimate, to revitalize.
- The Manx language has been revived after dying out, and is now taught in some schools on the Isle of Man.
- This new paint job should revive the surgery waiting room.
- Synonyms:
- reestablish, refresh, reinvigorate, renew, revivify, rally
- To cause (a feeling, state of mind, etc.) to come back or return; to reactivate, to reawaken.
- Partriche. Of all foules is moſte ſooneſt digeſted: and hath in hym moche nutriment, comforteth the brayne, and maketh ſede of generation,. and reuiueth luſte, whiche is abated.153[9], Thomas Elyot, “Of Flesshe”, in The Castel of Helth […], London: […] Thomæ Bertheleti […], →OCLC, book II, folio 50, verso
- So did ſhe all, that might his conſtant hart / VVithdravv from thought of vvarlike enterprize, / And drovvne in diſſolute delights apart, / VVhere noiſe of armes, or vevv of martiall guize / Might not reuiue deſire of knightly exercize.1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto VI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 25, page 263
- To renew (something) in one's or people's memories or minds; to bring back (something) to (public) attention; to reawaken.
- The Harry Potter books and films revived the world’s interest in wizardry.
- [T]he reſidue that was therto knytte and adioyned⸝ and late ſemed for the tyme ded or bireft from the mynde⸝ is reuiued and (as it were) retourned home agayne⸝ it is thã [than, i.e., then] had for redemed or reſtored⸝ and is properly called remembraunce.1531, Thomas Elyot, “Of Sapience⸝ and the Definition therof”, in The Boke Named the Governour […], London: […] Tho[mas] Bertheleti, →OCLC, 3rd boke, folios 238A, verso – 239, recto
- To make (something which has become faded or unclear) clear or fresh again; to refresh.
- It was very odd; his clothes were a fine, deep, glossy, black, and yet they looked like the same suit; nay, there were the very darns, with which old acquaintance had made us familiar. […] The truth flashed suddenly upon us—they had been "revived." 'Tis a deceitful liquid that black and blue...1836, “Boz” [pseudonym; Charles Dickens], “Shabby-genteel People”, in Sketches by “Boz,” Illustrative of Every-day Life, and Every-day People. […], volume II, London: John Macrone, […], →OCLC, page...
- […] I applied to the Council of the Academy, […] for liberty to apply a proper preparation to the part of the vellum which appeared blank before the name O'Donnell, and between it and the margin of the page. The academy complied with my request. I took the necessary means of reviving the ink, and...1856 July 3 (date delivered), Eugene O’Curry, “Lecture VII. The Annals (Continued). 10. The Annals of the Four Masters. The ‘Contention of the Bards’. Of Michael O’Clery [Mícheál Ó Cléirigh]. Of the...
- To restore (a metal (especially mercury) or other substance in a compound or mixture) to its pure or unmixed state.
- to revive a metal after calcination
- Take of crude Mercury diſtilled in a retort vvith Bay ſalt, or revived vvith common Cinnabarum, one part, Aqua fortis (of tvvo parts of Vitriol calcined and one part of ſalt Peter) tvvo parts, diſſolve them in a phial over vvarm aſhes, […]1649, Henry Atkins [et al.], “[.] Chymical Preparations More Usual. Mercurius Dulcis Precipitated.”, in Nich[olas] Culpeper, transl., A Physicall Directory or A Translation of the London Dispensatory...
- To give new validity to (a law or legal instrument); to reenact, to revalidate.
- [Y]et by his moſte excellent witte⸝ he in a few yeres⸝ nat only broughte this realme in good ordre and vnder due obedience⸝ reuiued the lawes⸝ auanced Juſtice⸝ refurniſſhed his dominions⸝ and repayred his manours: […]1531, Thomas Elyot, “Of the Fifthe Braunche Called Circumspection⸝ Shewed in Reprinse”, in The Boke Named the Governour […], London: […] Tho[mas] Bertheleti, →OCLC, 1st boke, folios 90, recto – 90...
- [S]uche Lawes made by hym, as kyng Henry the ſixt, had cauſed to be abrogated and adnichilated, he again reuiued and renouated.a. 1548 (date written), Edward Hall, Richard Grafton, “[The Prosperous Reigne of Kyng Edward the Fourth.] The .XIJ. Yere.”, in The Vnion of the Two Noble and Illustre Famelies of Lancastre & Yorke...
- To put on a new production of (a musical, play, or other stage performance; also, a film or television programme).
- A Prologue to the Play of Queene Elizabeth [I] as it vvas laſt revived at the Cock-pit, in vvhich the Author taxeth the moſt corrupted copy novv imprinted, vvhich vvas publiſhed vvithout his conſent.1637, Tho[mas] Heywood, “Sundry Fancies Writ upon Severall Occasions”, in Pleasant Dialogues and Dramma’s, Selected out of Lucian, Erasmus, Textor, Ovid, &c. […], London: […] R. O[ulton] for R....
- To bring (someone) back to a state of health or vigour.
- What helpes reuiue, / the thriuing, to thriue. / Plough fence and ſtore, / aught elſe before.1580, Thomas Tusser, “Septembers Abstract”, in Fiue Hundred Pointes of Good Husbandrie: […], London: […] Henrie Denham [beeing the assigne of William Seres] […], →OCLC, stanzas 4–5, folio 14, recto
- Doubtless, thou [Jesus] hadst herein no small respect to the faith of Jairus, unto whose house thou wert going. That good man had but one only daughter, which lay sick in the beginning of his suit; ere the end, lay dead. […] To make this good, by the touch of the verge of thy garment thou revivedst...1612–1626, Joseph Hall, “[Contemplations upon the Principal Passages in the Holy Story. Book IV.] The Bloody Issue Healed.”, in Josiah Pratt, editor, The Works of the Right Reverend Father in God...
- To rerun (an election).
- To recover from a faint; to return to a state of consciousness.
- He is in ſuche a ſwounde [swoon] yͭ I wene he wyll neuer reuyue againe […]1530 July 28 (Gregorian calendar), Iohan Palsgraue [i.e., John Palsgrave], “The Table of Verbes”, in Lesclarcissement de la langue francoyse⸝ […], [London]: […] [Richard Pynson] fynnysshed by Iohan...
- But God claue an hollow place that was in the iawe, and there came water thereout, ⁊ when he [Samson] had drunke, his ſpirit came againe, and he reuiued: […]1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Judges 15:19, signature Aa2, verso, column 1
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- Of a dead person or animal: to be brought back to life.
- For Chriſt therfore dyed and roſe agayne⸝ ãd [and] revived⸝ that he ſhuld be lorde both of deed and quicke.1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, The Epistle off the Apostle Paul to the Romanes xiiij:[9], folio ccxiiij, verso
- Perdye, then is it fitt for me (ſaid he) / That am, I vveene, moſt vvretched man aliue, / Burning in flames, yet no flames can I ſee, / And dying dayly, dayly yet reuiue: […]1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto VI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 45, page 269
- Synonyms:
- reanimate
- Of a person, animal, or plant: to return to a state of health or vigour, especially after almost dying.
- I Quycken I reuyue as a thyng dothe that fyrſt doth begyn to ſtyrre or yͭ was wyddered or almoſte deed and retourneth to lyfe againe⸝ […]1530 July 28 (Gregorian calendar), Iohan Palsgraue [i.e., John Palsgrave], “The Table of Verbes”, in Lesclarcissement de la langue francoyse⸝ […], [London]: […] [Richard Pynson] fynnysshed by Iohan...
- They that dwell vnder his ſhadow ſhall returne: they ſhall reuiue as the corne, ⁊ grow as the vine, the ſent thereof ſhalbe as the wine of Lebanon.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Hosea 14:7, signatures [Eeee6], verso – [Eeee7], recto
- To recover from a state of decline, neglect, oblivion, or obscurity; to become active or lively again; to reanimate, to revitalize.
- Classical learning revived in the 15th century.
- He ſees her comming, and begins to glovv: / Euen as a dying coale reuiues vvith vvinde, […]1593, [William Shakespeare], Venus and Adonis, London: […] Richard Field, […], →OCLC, signature [Ciiij], recto
- Of a feeling, state of mind, etc.: to come back or return; to be reactivated or reawakened.
- [W]hẽ [when] he ſaw the lord de la vale his hert reuyued and thought there was ſome tretye in hande.1524 March 20 (date written; Gregorian calendar), John Froissart [i.e., Jean Froissart], “Howe the Duke of Bretayne Sente for All His Lordes and Knyghtes to Come to Counsayle vnto Wannes and after...
- I once lived without out lawe: butt when the commaundement cam⸝ ſynne revived⸝ ãd [and] I was deed.1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, The Epistle off the Apostle Paul to the Romanes vij:[9], folio ccvj, verso
- Of a metal (especially mercury) or other substance in a compound or mixture: to return to its pure or unmixed state.
- Of a law or legal instrument: to be given new validity.
- Of a musical, play, or other stage performance; also, a film or television programme: to have a new production put on.
- It is not now doubted but plays will revive, and take their usual place in the opinion of persons of wit and merit, notwithstanding their late apostacy^([sic – meaning apostasy]) in favour of dress and sound.1709 April 22 (Gregorian calendar), Isaac Bickerstaff [et al., pseudonyms; Richard Steele], “Monday, April 12, 1709”, in The Tatler, number 1; republished in [Richard Steele], editor, The Tatler...
Noun
revive (plural revives)
- Synonym of revival (“an act of reviving, or a state of being revived (in various senses)”).
- [F]irst called at Wotton's, the shoemaker's, who tells me the reason of [Henry] Harris's going from Sir W[illia]m Davenant's house, that he grew very proud and demanded £20 for himself extraordinary, more than [Thomas] Betterton, or any body else, upon every new play, and £10 upon every revive; […]1663 July 31 (date written; Gregorian calendar), Samuel Pepys, Mynors Bright, transcriber, “July 22nd, 1663”, in Henry B[enjamin] Wheatley, editor, The Diary of Samuel Pepys […], volume III, London...
- Synonyms:
- revival
revive meaning in Hindi, Tamil, Urdu and Bengali
revive in Hindi
- transitive: to cause to recover from a faint or to return to a state of consciousness
- पुनर्जीवित punarjīvit
- transitive: to bring back to life
- पुनर्जीवित punarjīvit
- transitive: to cause to recover from a state of decline, etc.
- पुनर्जीवित punarjīvit
revive in Tamil
- to revive; to regain consciousness; to be reanimated
- உயிர் uyir
- to revive
- கண்விழி kaṇviḻi
revive in Urdu
- پنپنا
revive in Bengali
- পুনর্জ্ীবত করা, সংজ্ঞা লাভ করা, সঞ্জীবিত করা, প্রাণসঞ্চার করা
More languagesFewer languages
- revive in Malayalam
- ഉയിർക്കുക uyiṟkkuka
- revive in Kannada
- ಮಿಡುಕಿಸು, ತೆಪ್ಪತ್ತುಕೊಳ್ಳುವಂತೆ ಮಾಡು, ಬಳಕೆಗೆ ತರು, ಎಚ್ಚೆತ್ತುಕೊಳ್ಳು
- revive in Sanskrit
- जीवति jī́vati, जीव् jīv
- revive in Arabic
- أَحْيَا ʔaḥyā
- revive in Thai
- ชุบชีวิต chúp-chii-wít
- revive in Vietnamese
- hồi sinh
Examples of revive in a sentence
- The dying puppy was revived by a soft hand.
- [H]e […] realized that he had shot his friend and protector, Tarzan of the Apes. […] Soon the cool water revived him, and presently he opened his eyes to look in questioning surprise at D'Arnot.1912 October, Edgar Rice Burroughs, “Tarzan of the Apes”, in The All-Story, New York, N.Y.: Frank A. Munsey Co., →OCLC; republished as “The...
- The gen'rous ſpark extinct revive, / Teach me to love and to forgive, / Exact me ovvn defects to ſcan, / VVhat others are, to feel, and knovv myſelf a Man.1750 June 12 (date written; published 1751), T[homas] Gray, “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard”, in Designs by Mr. R[ichard] Bentley...
- Thou, O Lord! art mighty for ever: it is thou vvho reviveſt the dead, and art mighty to ſave.[1794], “Morning Service for the New Year”, in David Levi, transl., The Form of Prayers, for the New Year. According to the Custom of the...
- The colour from the flower is gone, / Which like thy sweet eyes smiled on me; / […] / I weep—my tears revive it not. / I sigh—it breathes no more on me; […]1818 (date written), Percy Bysshe Shelley, “On a Faded Violet”, in [Mary] Shelley, editor, The Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley. […]...
Synonyms of revive
1 more synonymsFewer synonyms
Antonyms
Forms of revive
| Verb | |
|---|---|
| third-person singular present | revives |
| present participle | reviving |
| past participle | revived |
| past | revived |
| second-person singular present (archaic) | revivest |
| second-person singular past (archaic) | revivedst |
| third-person singular present (archaic) | reviveth |
| Noun | |
| plural | revives |
Origin of revive
The verb is derived from Late Middle English reviven, revyven (“to recover from illness; to regain consciousness; to return to life after death; to happen again, recur; to be rejuvenated, renewed; (figurative) to bring back; (alchemy) of a metal: to be restored to its original form”), from Anglo-Norman reviver, revivre (“to return to life after death; to rejuvenate, renew; to make (a law or legal document) valid again”), Middle French revivre, and Old French revivre (“to return to life after death; to rejuvenate, renew”) (modern French revivre), and directly from their etymon Latin revīvere, the present active infinitive of revīvō (“to live again”), from re- (prefix meaning ‘again’) + vīvō (“to be alive, survive; to live”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gʷeyh₃- (“to live”)). The noun is derived from the verb.
Words formed from revive
Words that rhyme with revive
34 more rhymesFewer rhymes
Questions about revive
- What does revive mean?
- Revive means to cause (a person or animal) to recover from a faint; to cause (a person or animal) to return to a state of consciousness.
- What is revive in Hindi?
- Revive in Hindi is पुनर्जीवित (punarjīvit). See Revive meaning in Hindi.
- How do you use revive in a sentence?
- The dying puppy was revived by a soft hand.
- What part of speech is revive?
- Revive can be a verb or a noun.
- How do you pronounce revive?
- Revive is pronounced /ɹɪˈvaɪ̯v/.
- What is the past tense of revive?
- The past tense of revive is revived.
Words near revive in the dictionary
Source and license
Adapted from Wiktionary: revive (page history and authors); உயிர் (Tamil) (page history and authors); revive (Urdu Wiktionary) (page history and authors); revive (Bengali Wiktionary) (page history and authors); ഉയിർക്കുക (Malayalam) (page history and authors); revive (Kannada Wiktionary) (page history and authors); जीवति (Sanskrit) (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.
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Pronunciation audio from Wikimedia Commons, each file under its own free license: LL-Q1860 (eng)-Naomi Persephone Amethyst (NaomiAmethyst)-revive.wav, En-GB-revive.ogg.
Cite this entry: “revive.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/revive. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.