Meaning & use
renovations
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“renovations” is a form of “renovation”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meaning
nounusually plural
Building work that repairs, cleans and improves an old house or building so it looks and works better.
Grammar: Often plural for a set of jobs: major renovations, home renovations.
Patterns
- renovations to something
- renovations of something
The couple spent a year on renovations to their farmhouse.
The hotel will close for renovations in January.
Renovations to the old theater cost far more than expected.
Word forms
| singular | renovation |
|---|
Common combinations
- home renovations
- Home renovations can add value to a property.
- major renovations
- The museum is undergoing major renovations.
- undergo renovations
- The library is undergoing renovations until spring.
- closed for renovations
- The restaurant is closed for renovations this week.
- kitchen renovations
- Kitchen renovations are among the most expensive projects.
Synonyms and how they differ
- refurbishments
- Refurbishments is more common in British English and often suggests redecorating rather than structural work.
- restorations
- Restorations aim to return something to its original condition, while renovations may modernize it.
- remodeling
- Remodeling means changing the layout or design, a stronger change than renovating.
- upgrades
- Upgrades are improvements and can apply to anything, not only buildings.
Opposites
Word family
- renovate verb
- to repair and improve a building
- renovation noun
- the work of renovating
- renovator noun
- a person who renovates buildings
- renovated adjective
- repaired and improved
Commonly confused: renovations or innovations?
renovations vs innovations
Innovations are new ideas or inventions, whereas renovations improve something that already exists.
Practice
The cafe will be closed for ___ while the owners repaint and fit a new kitchen.
Choose one answer.
Renovations means repair and improvement work on a building. Innovations is a tempting similar-looking word but means new inventions.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “renovations”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.