Synonyms

restore

American

[ri-stawr, -stohr] / rɪˈstɔr, -ˈstoʊr /

verb (used with object)

to bring back into existence, use, or the like; reestablish.

to restore order.
to bring back to a former, original, or normal condition, as a building, statue, or painting.

Synonyms:

mend
to bring back to a state of health, soundness, or vigor.
to put back to a former place, or to a former position, rank, etc..

to restore the king to his throne.

Synonyms:

reinstate, replace
to give back; make return or restitution of (anything taken away or lost).
to reproduce or reconstruct (an ancient building, extinct animal, etc.) in the original state.

Synonyms:

rebuild

restore British

/ rɪˈstɔː /

verb

to return (something, esp a work of art or building) to an original or former condition
to bring back to health, good spirits, etc
to return (something lost, stolen, etc) to its owner
to reintroduce or re-enforce

to restore discipline
to reconstruct (an extinct animal, former landscape, etc)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Synonym Usage

See renew.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of restore

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English restoren, from Old French restorer, from Latin restaurāre; see re-, store

Explanation

If you restore furniture for a living, you clean and repair it to bring it back to its original beauty. When you restore something, you are simply bringing it back to what it once was. You are not making it better, nor are you adding something that wasn't there. You can restore a damaged reputation, your health, or an old house, though the latter may be easiest of those three to accomplish. If the electricity goes out, you will have to sit in the dark until the power is restored.

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The researchers also found that supplying phosphatidylcholine through diet helped restore mitochondrial function in aging laboratory organisms.

From Science Daily • Jun. 11, 2026

By virtue of their creativity alone, these 11 movies have the power to restore your faith in film.

From Salon • Jun. 10, 2026

Veterans twice sued in federal court demanding that the VA restore housing on the campus.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026

Their goal is to restore deterrence by responding to any challenge to their interests and make sure neither the U.S. or Israel come out of the war with a sense they have won.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

Lucy showed Maggie the mural she was going to restore.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023