DictionaryAI

restore

ri-STOR/ɹɪˈstoɹ/UKri-STAW/ɹɪˈstɔː/

Verbrestores, restoring, restored

Noun pluralrestores

8 meanings of restore

Practice

  1. 1
    verbtransitive
    To fix something old or damaged so it looks or works well again.

    Like fixing up an old bike until it rides like new.

    They worked all summer to restore the old farmhouse.

    Experts restored the faded painting to its former colors.

    Similarrenovate, repair, refurbish, rebuild

    Oppositedamage, destroy

    Note
  2. 2
    verbtransitive
    To bring something back so it exists or works again.

    Like turning the lights back on after a power cut.

    The new mayor worked to restore trust in the police.

    Doctors managed to restore his heartbeat after the accident.

    Similarreestablish, reinstate, revive, renew

    Note
  3. 3
    verbtransitive
    To give something back to the person who owned it.

    Like returning a borrowed book to your friend.

    The bank promised to restore the stolen money to her account.

    He restored the lost wallet to its rightful owner.

    Similarreturn

    Oppositeconfiscate

    Note
  4. 4
    verbtransitive
    To get back saved files from a backup copy.

    Like getting back a saved game after your computer turns off.

    You can restore your photos from the cloud backup.

    She restored the deleted files after the crash.

    Similarrecover

    Note
  5. 5
    nouncountable
    The act of getting back saved data from a backup copy.

    Like loading a saved game to get your progress back.

    The restore took several hours to finish.

    After the crash, a full restore brought back all her files.

    Similarrecovery

    Note
  6. 6
    verbtransitive
    To give something to make up for a loss.

    Like paying back money for something you broke.

    The company agreed to restore the value of the damaged goods.

    He restored the full amount to cover what was lost.

    Similarreimburse, refund, repay

    Note
  7. 7
    verbtransitive
    To bring a musical note back to its normal pitch after a sharp or flat.

    The natural sign tells you to restore the note to its usual pitch.

    She restored the note by adding a natural sign.

    Note

Less common meaning

  1. 8
    verbobsolete
    To pay back or make up for a loss or wrong done to someone.
    But if the while I think on thee, dear friend, / All losses are restored, and sorrows end.
    1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 30”Here, restored means made up for, so losses are paid back.
    Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of restore apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Latin rēstaurāre. It came into English through Old French restorer.