revival

noun

re·​viv·​al ri-ˈvī-vəl 

1

: an act or instance of reviving : the state of being revived: such as

a

: renewed attention to or interest in something

b

: a new presentation or publication of something old

c(1)

: a period of renewed religious interest

(2)

: an often highly emotional evangelistic meeting or series of meetings

2

: restoration of force, validity, or effect (as to a contract)

Synonyms

• reanimation
• rebirth
• regeneration
• rejuvenation
• rejuvenescence
• renewal
• resurgence
• resurrection
• resuscitation
• revitalization
• revivification

Examples of revival in a Sentence

a revival of biographical writing

a revival in Gothic architecture

Fashions from the 1970s are enjoying a revival.

The city is showing signs of revival.

There are three musical revivals on Broadway this season.

The opera company is staging a revival of Verdi's Don Carlos.

Recent Examples on the Web

The revival requires Burnett to tour the cultural capitals, and to talk about the film and therefore his life in situ, as if life did not present its trials after. —Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 14 June 2025

The actor, who played Ray Romano’s brother in the series, confirmed that there won’t be a revival of the show after speaking with Romano and Philip Rosenthal, the show’s creator. —Giana Levy, Variety, 14 June 2025

Photo-illustration by Newsweek/Getty/Canva The Reasons Behind the Rise National polling shows no measurable migration of Gen Z women toward the political right or a revival of traditional-role attitudes—just a louder online niche. —Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025

Erik Per Sullivan, who starred as Dewey in the early-2000s fox sitcom, is the lone original-series star that will not return to the Disney+ revival. —Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 12 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing revival

• revival meeting

Rhymes for revival

• archival
• arrival
• survival
• conjunctival
• rival
• subconjunctival

Kids Definition

revival

noun

re·​viv·​al ri-ˈvī-vəl 

1

: a reviving of interest (as in art, literature, or religion)

2

: a new presentation or publication (as of a book, play, or movie)

3

: a new growth or increase

a revival of business

4

: a meeting or series of meetings conducted by a preacher to arouse religious emotions or to make converts

Legal Definition

revival

noun

re·​vi·​val ri-ˈvī-vəl 

: an act or instance of reviving