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restore
/rɪˈstɔːr/
bring back to former state
The technicians worked overnight to restore power to the city.
They fixed the system so electricity was available again.
formal
to bring something back into existence or use
They hope to restore the monarchy.
They want the king or queen to rule again.
Often used for systems, rights, or institutions.
Engineering
formal
to repair an old object to its original condition
The museum spent years restoring the ancient painting.
Experts cleaned and fixed the artwork to look like it did when new.
Common in art conservation and architecture.
Technology
technical
to return data or files to a computer system
You can restore your phone from a backup.
You can reload saved data onto your device.
Key term in IT and data management.
Medicine
formal
to make someone feel healthy or energetic again
A good night's sleep will restore your energy.
Sleeping well will make you feel strong again.
Used for health, strength, or morale.
Collocations
restore orderstop chaos and establish controlrestore faithmake someone believe againrestore balancereturn to equilibrium
Synonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Transitive Verb
Always use an object. You cannot 'restore' alone; you must restore something (e.g., 'restore the file').
Gold Rule
Object Requirement
Never use 'restore' without specifying what is being brought back.
Word Origin
From Latin restaurare, meaning 'to renew, rebuild', from re- (again) + stare (to stand).
Usage Notes
Use 'restore' when the original state is being brought back. Use 'repair' for fixing broken parts without necessarily returning to the original state. Use 'recover' for finding something lost or getting better from illness.
Word Breakdown
re-
again
prefixstore
to stand
rootEnglish Dictionary