2 syllables: Re, vive. Stress on vive.
riv-EYEV
/ɹɪˈvaɪv/
Revive is pronounced riv-EYEV (/ɹɪˈvaɪv/). It has two syllables (Re-vive), with the stress on "vive". Revive is a verb meaning to bring something back to life, strength, or full use after a period of inactivity or decline. It can refer to restoring health, reanimating a person, or restoring interest or energy to a project. The process implies renewal, revitalization, and a reactivation of function or vitality.
verbRevive is a verb meaning to bring something back to life, strength, or full use after a period of inactivity or decline. It can refer to restoring health, reanimating a person, or restoring interest or energy to a project. The process implies renewal, revitalization, and a reactivation of function or vitality.
"The doctors worked to revive the patient after the heart stopped beating."
"Efforts to revive the local economy began to show promising results."
"She started a campaign to revive interest in traditional crafts."
Pronounce it as /rɪˈvaɪv/. The stress is on the second syllable: ri- VIVE. Start with a light, short /r/ followed by a quick /ɪ/ as in 'kit,' then glide into the long /aɪ/ diphthong, ending with a crisp /v/ and the final /v/. Audio reference: imagine saying 're-ive' with a strong focus on the /aɪ/ in the second syllable.
Common mistakes include reducing the /aɪ/ to a short /ɪ/ as in 'reviv' and misplacing stress as RE-vive. Another pitfall is pronouncing the word as /ˈriːv/ or /rəˈvaɪv/ with a long first vowel. Correct these by keeping /ɪ/ in the first syllable, placing primary stress on the second syllable, and ensuring a clear /aɪ/ glide leading into /v/.
In US, UK, and AU, the pronunciation is largely /rɪˈvaɪv/, with primary stress on the second syllable. Differences lie in rhoticity and vowel quality: US often maintains rhotic /r/ influence and a slightly tensed /ɪ/; UK may display a less centralized /ɪ/ and crisper /v/; AU tends to be broader and flatter, but still /rɪˈvaɪv/ with a post-vocalic /ɹ/ that’s less pronounced. Overall vowel length and intonation patterns vary subtly.
The difficulty centers on the /ɪ/ to /aɪ/ transition and the final /v/ consonant cluster, especially for speakers whose L1 vowels don’t contrast /ɪ/ and /aɪ/. The diphthong /aɪ/ requires a pronounced glide from /ɪ/ to /aɪ/ within a stressed syllable and a crisp /v/ at the end. Additionally, keeping stress on the second syllable while maintaining smooth articulation can be challenging under fast speech.
A unique aspect is the clear, stressed /aɪ/ diphthong in the second syllable, contrasting with the short /ɪ/ in the first. The presence of two consonants /v/ at the end creates a strong, voiceless–voiced interaction. For non-native speakers, the challenge lies in not shortening the second syllable and in syncing voicing of /v/ with the preceding nasal or vowel, ensuring an audible, percussive end.
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Revive comes from the French revivre, itself from the Latin vivere ‘to live.’ The prefix re- implies ‘again’ or ‘back,’ and -vive derives from vivere, meaning ‘to live.’ The term entered English via Old French in the late Middle Ages, originally connoting a literal return to life. Over time, revival broadened to figurative senses—restoring health, spirit, or vigor, and later, reviving customs, ideas, or traditions. By the 19th century, revive commonly described reactivating or reenergizing something that had faded, whether a movement, a technique, or culture. In modern usage, revive frequently collocates with health, industries, performances, and cultural traditions, signaling a renewed vitality after dormancy.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Revive" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Revive" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Revive"
-ive sounds
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