restore

verb

re·​store ri-ˈstȯr How to pronounce restore (audio)
restored; restoring
Synonyms of restore

transitive verb

1
: give back, return
The police restored the stolen backpack to its owner.
2
: to put or bring back into existence or use
Surgery will restore his hearing.
3
: to bring back to or put back into a former or original state : renew
restore an old house
4
: to put again in possession of something
restored the king to the throne
restorer noun

Synonyms of restore

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Choose the Right Synonym for restore

renew, restore, refresh, renovate, rejuvenate mean to make like new.

renew implies a restoration of what had become faded or disintegrated so that it seems like new.

efforts to renew the splendor of the old castle

restore implies a return to an original state after depletion or loss.

restored a fine piece of furniture

refresh implies the supplying of something necessary to restore lost strength, animation, or power.

a refreshing drink

renovate suggests a renewing by cleansing, repairing, or rebuilding.

the apartment has been entirely renovated

rejuvenate suggests the restoration of youthful vigor, powers, or appearance.

the change in jobs rejuvenated her spirits

Examples of restore in a Sentence

The police restored law and order. The government needs to restore confidence in the economy. an antique car that is being carefully restored
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
To reestablish and preserve traditional rivalries and eliminate cross-country travel demands, restore conference alignments to their original geographical moorings. — Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026 Ships may need specialized facilities or port visits to restore their ammunition supplies. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 28 Oct. 2026 Jennifer Shuford, who had been Texas’s health commissioner, was part of a team hired to restore confidence in the agency. — Dan Diamond, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026 With the country engaged in a multi-front war, the ultra-Orthodox — or Haredi — population wants to formally restore a broad exemption from Israel’s mandatory military service. — Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for restore

Word History

Etymology

Middle English restoren "to make restitution, return, heal, return to health, replace, restock," borrowed from Anglo-French restorer, restaurer (also continental Old French), borrowed from Latin restaurāre "to return to its former condition, bring back into existence," alteration, by suffix substitution, of instaurāre "to start afresh (an interrupted rite), take up again, restore" (probably after instituere "to set into being, establish" : restituere "to set up again, restore") — more at store entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of restore was in the 14th century

Rhymes for restore

See All Rhymes for restore

Browse Nearby Words

restorator
restore
restorement
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Restore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/restore. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

restore

verb
re·​store ri-ˈstō(ə)r How to pronounce restore (audio)
-ˈstȯ(ə)r
restored; restoring
1
: return entry 1 sense 5
restored the purse to its owner
2
: to put or bring back into existence or use
restore harmony after an argument
3
: to bring back to or put back into an earlier or original state
restore an old house
4
: to put again in possession of something
restore the king to the throne
restorable
-ˈstōr-ə-bəl, 
-ˈstȯr-
adjective
restorer noun

Medical Definition

restore

transitive verb
re·​store ri-ˈstō(ə)r, -ˈstȯ(ə)r How to pronounce restore (audio)
restored; restoring
: to bring back to or put back into a former or original state
a tooth restored with an inlay
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