What is revive? Pronunciation and usage in English

revive means . Learn how to pronounce and use revive through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of revive

reviveverb

/rɪˈvaɪv//rɪˈvaɪv/

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "revive" in English. Here's a breakdown:

Pronunciation: /ˈrɪˌvaɪv/ (American English) or /ˈrɪˌvaɪv/ (British English) - It’s essentially the same!

Here’s a syllable-by-syllable breakdown:

  • re: Pronounced like the "re" in "red." It's a short, crisp "r" sound. (/rɛ/)
  • vive: This is the tricky part!
    • vi: Pronounced like "vee" (as in "very"). (/vi/)
    • ve: Pronounced like "v" (as in "van"). (/v/)
    • -ive: This ending is pronounced like "ive" in "alive" (a long "i" sound). (/aɪv/)

Putting it all together:

It sounds roughly like: “Ree-vive”

Tips for getting it right:

  • Stress: The stress is on the second syllable, “vive.” So, you want to make that syllable slightly longer and more emphasized.
  • Vowel sounds: Focus on the clear “vee” and “v” sounds in “vive.”
  • Don’t over-emphasize the ‘r’: The initial “r” is quiet, not emphasized.

Resources for Hearing it:

Would you like me to:

  • Repeat the pronunciation slowly?
  • Give you a similar word to practice with?

Usage and examples with the word revive in English

Let's break down how to use the word "revive" in English. It's a versatile word with a few distinct meanings, so understanding the context is key.

1. To Bring Back to Life (Literal or Figurative)

  • Literal: This is the most basic meaning. It refers to restoring something to a living state.

    • Example: "The doctor worked tirelessly to revive the patient after the accident." (Bringing the patient back from being unconscious or close to death)
    • Example: "The gardener carefully watered the wilted flowers to revive them." (Restoring the plants to a healthy state)

  • Figurative: This is a much more common usage. It means to restore something that has lost its vitality, interest, or enthusiasm.

    • Example: "The concert was a huge success, reviving memories of the band's glory days." (Restoring a feeling or nostalgia)
    • Example: "Reading that old book revived my interest in history." (Re-igniting a passion)
    • Example: “Taking up hiking has really revived my spirit.” (Restoring energy and enthusiasm)

2. To Re-establish or Restart (An Organization, Movement, etc.)

“Revive” can also be used to describe the act of bringing something back to life or activity after a period of inactivity or decline.

  • Example: “The organization is attempting to revive its membership after a period of low participation.”
  • Example: “The government hopes to revive the local economy through new investment.”

3. To Bring Back a Feeling or Emotion

Similar to the figurative sense above, but often more immediate.

  • Example: "The smell of fresh coffee revived me after a sleepless night."
  • Example: “Listening to her laugh revived my own joy.”

Key Considerations & Synonyms

  • Verb: "Revive" is primarily a verb.
  • Often paired with “something”: You usually say "revive something." (e.g., "revive the patient," "revive the business")
  • Synonyms: Consider these alternatives depending on the nuance you want to convey:
    • Restore: (Focus on returning to a previous state) – “The restoration of the old building was impressive.”
    • Resurrect: (Often implies bringing something back from death or something forgotten – stronger than revive) - “They resurrected the classic film for a new generation.”
    • Renew: (Focus on making something fresh or new again) - “The fresh air helped to renew my energy.”
    • Reanimate: (More technical, often used in science fiction to bring something inanimate back to life)
    • Spark: (Suggests a sudden increase in enthusiasm or interest) - “The news sparked a renewed interest in the project.”

Tips for Using "Revive" Effectively

  • Context is crucial: Pay attention to the surrounding words and sentence to understand the specific meaning.
  • Show, don’t just tell: Instead of just saying something is “revived,” consider describing how it's revived – what caused it to come back to life?

To help me give you even more tailored advice, could you tell me:

  • What are you trying to use "revive" in? (e.g., a story, an essay, a conversation?)
  • Can you give me an example sentence you're working on where you want to use the word?

Synonyms for the word revive

Practice with vocabulary revive

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The local council is launching a new campaign to ______ the town's declining tourism sector.
  2. After several weeks of intense negotiations, they were finally able to ______ the stalled peace talks.
  3. The board decided to ______ the company's annual report, addressing several inaccuracies that had been identified.
  4. To ensure data security and optimal performance, it's crucial to regularly ______ your system's software with the latest patches.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. Which of the following actions would best ______ the stagnant economy? a) stimulate b) hinder c) invigorate d) revive e) suppress

  2. The paramedics worked tirelessly to ______ the unconscious accident victim. a) resuscitate b) soothe c) revive d) sedate e) awaken

  3. The committee aims to ______ the old library building to its former glory. a) demolish b) renovate c) repair d) restore e) dismantle

  4. The fashion designer sought to ______ traditional weaving techniques in her new collection, making them relevant again. a) discard b) modernize c) popularize d) revive e) abandon

  5. The CEO's speech was designed to ______ employee morale after a challenging quarter. a) diminish b) boost c) uplift d) deplete e) improve

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Original: The struggling local businesses hoped that the new government policies would help them recover and thrive again. Rewrite using "revive":
  2. Original: After years of being forgotten, public interest in the historical landmark started to increase once more. Rewrite using "revive":
  3. Original: The primary objective was to bring the classic car back to its original, perfect condition. Rewrite without "revive":

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. revive
  2. revive
  3. amend (or revise)
  4. update (or upgrade)

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. a) stimulate, c) invigorate, d) revive
  2. a) resuscitate, c) revive, e) awaken
  3. b) renovate, c) repair, d) restore
  4. c) popularize, d) revive
  5. b) boost, c) uplift, e) improve

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The struggling local businesses hoped that the new government policies would help revive their operations.
  2. After years of being forgotten, public interest in the historical landmark began to revive.
  3. The primary objective was to restore the classic car to its original, perfect condition.

Comment ()