(restores, restoring, restored)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
To restore a situation or practice means to cause it to exist again.
The army has recently been brought in to restore order...
VERB: V n
• restoration
His visit is expected to lead to the restoration of diplomatic relations...
N-UNCOUNT: usu N of n
2.
To restore someone or something to a previous condition means to cause them to be in that condition once again.
We will restore her to health but it may take time...
His country desperately needs Western aid to restore its ailing economy.
VERB: V n to n, V n
• restoration
I owe the restoration of my hearing to this remarkable new technique.
N-UNCOUNT: usu N of n
3.
When someone restores something such as an old building, painting, or piece of furniture, they repair and clean it, so that it looks like it did when it was new.
...experts who specialise in examining and restoring ancient parchments.
VERB: V n
• restoration (restorations)
I specialized in the restoration of old houses...
N-VAR
4.
If something that was lost or stolen is restored to its owner, it is returned to them. (FORMAL)
The following day their horses and goods were restored to them...
= return
VERB: usu passive, be V-ed to n