restore

restore — verb

1. to clean, repair, or rebuild an old or damaged object until it looks or works th

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to clean, repair, or rebuild an old or damaged object until it looks or works the way it did when new.

例句

Christopher spent two years restoring the old wooden sailing boat he found in a barn.

restore + [object needing repair]

The museum hired a specialist to restore the damaged 18th-century painting.

同義詞
  • renovate

    often means updating to modern standards rather than returning to an original state

  • repair

    fixing something broken; less focused on returning to an original condition than restore

  • refurbish

    making something look clean and new again, especially furniture or buildings

反義詞
  • damage

    to harm the condition of something

  • destroy

    to completely ruin something beyond repair

文法句型

restore + [physical object needing repair]

be restored by [specialist or crafts person]

用法筆記

Frequently used in passive voice when the focus is on the specialist or crafts person doing the work: 'The fresco was restored by a team of experts.'

常見錯誤

❌I restored my phone by buying a new case.
✅I repaired my phone by replacing the screen.
💡'Restore' implies returning something to its original condition, not a basic fix or adding accessories.
❌She restored the room by painting it pink.
✅She restored the room by uncovering the original 1920s wallpaper.
💡'Restore' means going back to an original state, not simply redecorating.

2. to make a positive feeling, situation, or physical ability come back again after

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

to make a positive feeling, situation, or physical ability come back again after it has been lost or weakened.

例句

A good night's sleep restored Nia's energy so she could continue her hike.

restore + [abstract noun like energy/strength]

The therapist's exercises helped restore movement in Gabriel's injured shoulder.

同義詞
  • revive

    focuses on bringing back consciousness, energy, or interest; more dramatic than restore

  • bring back

    less formal, used in everyday speech

  • renew

    suggests making something feel fresh or new again, not just returning to how it was

反義詞
  • weaken

    to make a quality or ability less strong

  • undermine

    to gradually make something less confident or effective

文法句型

restore + [abstract noun] (confidence, trust, health, sight, peace)

用法筆記

Common objects include: confidence, trust, faith, hope, sight, hearing, strength, health, peace, order, and dignity. The subject is often an experience, treatment, action, or event — not necessarily a person.

常見錯誤

❌The medicine restored me.
✅The medicine restored my strength.
💡'Restore' needs an object; you must say what quality or ability came back.
❌I restored from the illness quickly.
✅I recovered from the illness quickly.
💡'Restore' is transitive; 'recover' is intransitive and is the correct word for getting better on your own.

3. to begin using a law, custom, or method once more after a period of not using it

3.動詞及物B2
釋義

to begin using a law, custom, or method once more after a period of not using it.

例句

The school decided to restore the old tradition of a yearly sports day.

restore + [tradition/practice]

Yuna's company restored flexible working hours after employees complained about the fixed schedule.

同義詞
  • reintroduce

    more explicit about something being brought in again; often used with laws and policies

  • reinstate

    more formal, often used for rules, rights, or positions

  • re-establish

    suggests rebuilding a system or relationship from a firmer base

反義詞
  • abolish

    to officially end a law, system, or practice

  • discontinue

    to stop using or providing something

文法句型

restore + [law, tradition, custom, system, practice]

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1 (REPAIR / RENOVATE): sense 1 deals with physical objects being fixed, while sense 3 deals with non-physical systems, customs, or laws being brought back into operation.

常見錯誤

❌The school restored the broken windows.' (when you meant sense 1)
✅The school repaired the broken windows.
💡Use 'restore' in sense 3 only for non-physical things like traditions or rules.
❌They restored the old tradition back.
✅They restored the old tradition.
💡'Restore' already includes the idea of 'back'; do not add 'back' after it.

4. to return possession of an item to its rightful owner, especially after it went

4.動詞及物B2
釋義

to return possession of an item to its rightful owner, especially after it went missing or was taken away.

例句

The police restored the stolen paintings to the museum within a week.

restore + [stolen item] + to + [place] — formal/legal context

A kind stranger restored Meera's lost wallet to her after finding it on the bus.

同義詞
  • return

    less formal, used in everyday situations

  • give back

    informal, used in everyday speech

  • hand back

    informal, often used when a person physically passes something to another

反義詞
  • steal

    to take something that belongs to someone else

  • confiscate

    to officially take something away, often by authority

  • withhold

    to refuse to give something back

文法句型

restore + [lost/stolen item] + to + [person/place]

用法筆記

More formal than 'give back' or 'return'. Common in legal and official contexts. Often used with the pattern: restore [item] to [owner/person/place]. Frequently appears in news reports about stolen art, cultural heritage, or land rights.

常見錯誤

❌She restored the book to the library shelf.
✅She returned the book to the library shelf.
💡'Restore' to mean 'give back' is for stolen or lost items, not for routine returns.
❌The police restored him his wallet.
✅The police restored his wallet to him.
💡'Restore' requires 'to' before the recipient.