Meaning & use
revamp work
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Meanings
phrasefixed phrase
to improve the appearance, style, or organization of work, a job, or a workplace, usually by making major changes.
Grammar: "Revamp" takes an object, so you say revamp your work or revamp the whole project; it is not used without an object.
Patterns
- revamp work
- revamp your work
- revamp the work on something
- revamp how someone works
The manager asked us to revamp work in the customer service team so that replies go out faster.
After the merger, they spent six months revamping work processes across all departments.
She revamped her own work by setting aside two quiet hours every morning for writing.
phrasefixed phrase
to give a piece of writing, design, or other created thing a fresh new form or style.
Grammar: Here "work" means a created piece, such as an essay, painting, or song; the object of "revamp" is that piece.
Patterns
- revamp a piece of work
- revamp someone's work
- revamp the work for something
The editor revamped my work before it went to print, tightening every paragraph.
He revamped the artwork for the poster and made the title much bolder.
Teachers often revamp their lesson materials at the start of a new term.
Common combinations
- revamp work processes
- The company hired a consultant to revamp work processes and cut wasted time.
- revamp your work
- If you revamp your work habits, you may finish earlier each day.
- a complete revamp of the work
- The director ordered a complete revamp of the work done last year.
- revamp the way someone works
- New software revamped the way our whole team works.
- badly need revamping
- The old handbook badly needs revamping before new staff arrive.
Synonyms and how they differ
- overhaul
- "Overhaul" suggests a thorough check and repair, often of a system or machine, while "revamp" stresses a fresh new look or style.
- redo
- "Redo" means doing something again, usually because it was wrong, but "revamp" means improving something that already exists.
- modernize
- "Modernize" focuses on making something up to date with current methods, while "revamp" can be about style as well as method.
- restructure
- "Restructure" is used mainly for organizations and systems, not for a single piece of creative work.
Word family
Commonly confused: revamp work or rework?
revamp work vs rework
"Rework" means changing something because it is not right yet, often several times; "revamp" means improving something that is basically finished.
Practice
The design team was asked to ______ the company's website before the product launch.
Choose one answer.
"Revamp" is a transitive verb, so it takes a direct object with no preposition: revamp the website. "Revamp to" and "revamp for" wrongly add a preposition, and "revamping" would need an auxiliary verb such as "was revamping" or "is revamping."
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “revamp work”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.