renovate

verb

ˈre-nə-ˌvāt How to pronounce renovate (audio)
Definition of renovatenext
as in to repair
to put into good shape or working order again will have to renovate the house extensively before we can move in

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb renovate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of renovate are refresh, rejuvenate, renew, and restore. While all these words mean "to make like new," renovate suggests a renewing by cleansing, repairing, or rebuilding.

the apartment has been entirely renovated

When is it sensible to use refresh instead of renovate?

While the synonyms refresh and renovate are close in meaning, refresh implies the supplying of something necessary to restore lost strength, animation, or power.

a refreshing drink

When is rejuvenate a more appropriate choice than renovate?

While in some cases nearly identical to renovate, rejuvenate suggests the restoration of youthful vigor, powers, or appearance.

the change in jobs rejuvenated her spirits

When would renew be a good substitute for renovate?

The words renew and renovate can be used in similar contexts, but 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

Where would restore be a reasonable alternative to renovate?

Although the words restore and renovate have much in common, restore implies a return to an original state after depletion or loss.

restored a fine piece of furniture

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of renovate The data center is expected to cost about $107 million to build and will be hosted within an existing building, which will be renovated on the inside but left relatively intact on the outside. — Ilana Arougheti july 1, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026 Mateschitz and Red Bull renovated the track again, bringing the facilities up to 21st-century F1 standards, and the sport returned in 2014. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 29 June 2026 The organization has retained architect Johnston Marklee, which designed the Whitney Museum Independent Study Program’s new home across town, to renovate the space. — News Desk, Artforum, 29 June 2026 Gaspare Fossati, the architect best known for restoring Hagia Sophia, renovated the building in the 1840s, while the remains of 13th-century Genoese ramparts still form part of the restaurant walls downstairs. — Liam Hess, Vogue, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for renovate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for renovate
  1. repair
  2. rebuild
  3. reconstruct
  4. fix
Verb
  • According to an account of her testimony in Rolling Stone, Avila was left with severe scarring on her face and left arm, with limited mobility after surgeons grafted skin from her abdomen to repair her arm.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 1 July 2026
  • Ndiaye’s season ended early after surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder.
    — Lauren Williams, AJC.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of repair
Verb
  • In Lebanon, at least 100,000 children risk missing out on school unless classrooms damaged by Israeli strikes are urgently repaired or rebuilt before September, the United Nations children’s agency UNICEF has warned.
    — Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
  • The work is being presented as the first report of a material that stores energy by physically rebuilding itself.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 July 2026
Definition of rebuild
Verb
  • Therefore, leaders must use process mining and intelligence to reconstruct customer journeys in real time.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • The study calls for reconstructing those interchanges, which could include adding lanes for vehicles to enter or exit the highway.
    — Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 30 June 2026
Definition of reconstruct
Verb
  • And 35% of Americans currently disagree with deploying violence to fix their concerns about the direction of the country.
    — Saige Miller, NPR, 1 July 2026
  • This way, the hotel staff can fix any issues and help your stay feel far more comfortable.
    — Molly Burford, Southern Living, 1 July 2026
Definition of fix

Browse Nearby Words

renouncing
renovate
renovated
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Cite this Entry

“Renovate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/renovate. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on renovate

Nglish: Translation of renovate for Spanish Speakers

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