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revitalize

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Etymology and origin of the English word revitalize

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1834 J. V. C. Smith, Class-book of Anatomy More words from the 19th century
Ultimate origins
Anglo-Norman re-English vitalize
Derivations

Pronunciation

  • UK: /ɹiːˈvaɪt(ə)laɪz/[1]
  • US: /ɹiˈvaɪt(ə)ˌlaɪz/[1]

Etymology

It is formed from English re- (“again”) + vitalize (“to give life to”).[2][3][4][5][6] The base verb, recorded from 1678, is formed from vital and -ize.[2][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

To restore vitality to; to put new life or vigour into: 1834, in J. V. C. Smith's Class-book of Anatomy.[2] Merriam-Webster Unabridged also gives 1834,[3] Etymonline 1840,[4] and Merriam-Webster's Collegiate 1869.[7]

Semantic evolution

The base verb vitalize first meant to give life to the body (1678); from 1805 it also meant to make active or infuse vigour into something figuratively;[2][4] revitalize had the sense of restoring vigour from its first record.[2][4] The noun revitalization followed in 1850 by the OED's dating, 1869 by Etymonline's.[2][4]

Timeline

  • 1834 – to restore to vitality, to put new life or vigour into.[2][3] Etymonline dates the word to 1840.[4]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To give new life, energy or vigour to: A week by the sea revitalized the whole family.[8][3][2]
  2. To bring back to an active, flourishing state: a plan to revitalize the old harbour district.[3]

Word family

Usage notes

The spelling revitalise is chiefly British.[8][6]

References

  1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Oxford English Dictionary Online (accessed March 2026), Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ Klein, Ernest. A Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the English Language. 2 vols. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 1966–1967.
  6. ^ a b Dictionary.com Unabridged (2016), based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, New York: Random House
  7. ^ Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  8. ^ a b Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins
Cite this entry

“Revitalize.” Etymologically, 14 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/en/revitalize. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

Last edited on . ·