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Meaning & use

restoration

noun, proper noun·Academic

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UK/ˌrestəˈreɪʃn/
US/ˌrestəˈreɪʃn/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable or uncountable

    the work of repairing an old building, painting, or object so that it looks as it did originally

    Grammar: Can be used as an uncountable activity (restoration takes years) or as a countable instance (a careful restoration).

    Patterns

    • the restoration of something
    • a restoration of something
    • undergo restoration
    • carry out a restoration

    The museum spent five years on the restoration of the ceiling fresco.

    After a full restoration, the 18th-century house looks much as it did in 1750.

    The painting is too fragile to survive another restoration.

  2. nouncountable or uncountable

    the act of bringing something back to a former state, such as a right, order, or good condition

    Grammar: Often followed by of: the restoration of democracy.

    Patterns

    • the restoration of something
    • restoration of order
    • a restoration to something

    The treaty called for the restoration of the region's traditional borders.

    Voters hoped for the restoration of calm after months of protests.

    Her restoration to full health took most of the year.

  3. proper nounsingularBritish

    the period of English history from 1660, when Charles II became king and the monarchy returned

    Grammar: Usually written with a capital R and the: the Restoration.

    Patterns

    • the Restoration
    • during the Restoration
    • Restoration drama

    Theaters reopened in London during the Restoration.

    Restoration comedy is famous for its sharp, witty dialogue.

Word forms

pluralrestorations

Common combinations

restoration work
Restoration work on the cathedral will continue through the winter.
undergo restoration
The old theater will undergo restoration next year.
a restoration project
She donated money to a restoration project for the town library.
the restoration of order
Troops were sent in for the restoration of order.
painstaking restoration
The manuscript needed years of painstaking restoration.

Synonyms and how they differ

repair
Use repair for fixing damage so something works again; restoration stresses bringing it back to its original appearance or state.
renovation
Renovation is common for modernizing a building; restoration suggests returning it to how it once looked.
reinstatement
Reinstatement fits when a person is put back in a job or a rule is brought back, not for buildings or art.

Opposites

demolitiondestruction

Word family

restore verb
to bring something back to its earlier or original condition
restorative adjective
having the power to make you feel healthy or strong again
restorer noun
a person whose job is to repair old buildings, paintings, or furniture

Commonly confused: restoration or reformation?

restoration vs reformation

Reformation means a major change that improves something, often religious or social; restoration means putting something back the way it was.

Practice

The city has announced a major ___ of its historic train station, which will return it to its 1890s appearance.

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