What does revitalise mean?
Revitalise means to give something renewed life, energy or activity. It is especially common when describing the renewal of an economy, community, building, institution or brand, although it can also apply to a person's physical condition. The word often implies more than simply repairing or continuing something: it suggests restoring vitality, making something lively again or helping it flourish. For example, a programme of grants might revitalise a run-down district, while a period of rest could revitalise someone weakened by illness. Its connotation is generally positive, presenting renewal as beneficial and constructive. Revitalise is the standard British spelling, while American English normally uses revitalize. The verb can be transitive, as in “the project revitalised the town,” and it is also used figuratively to describe social, cultural or institutional renewal.
verbTo give new life, energy, or activity to something. It can also mean to restore something to a functioning or flourishing condition.
- To give new life, energy, or activity to something.
- To restore something to a functioning, flourishing, or effective condition.
"The new pedestrian route helped revitalise the town centre."
"Local businesses have worked together to revitalise the market area."
"A period of rest helped revitalise her after a long illness."
With one prefix, revitalise turns the idea of restoring life into a familiar verb for renewing economies, neighbourhoods, brands and institutions.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does revitalise come from?
Revitalise was formed in the 19th century from the prefix re-, meaning again, and vitalise, meaning to endow with life. Vitalise itself derives through vitality from Latin vitalis, “of or pertaining to life,” which is based on Latin vita, “life.” The modern verb belongs to a wider family of English words associated with life and vitality, including vital, vitality and vivify.
Related word forms
How revitalise is actually used
The standard British spelling uses -ise; the standard US spelling is revitalize. The verb is frequently used figuratively in political, economic, cultural and organisational contexts.
Easily confused with revitalise
Revive can mean to bring a person back to life or restore something to use, whereas revitalise usually suggests imparting renewed energy or activity.