revamp
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /rɪvˈæmp/
US
- /riˈvæmp/
Description
- Overhaul
- Renew
- Modernize
- Redesign
Imagine an old house that's seen better days. It needs more than just a quick tidy-up; it needs a revamp! To revamp something is to completely change or improve it, often by making significant alterations. Think of giving your wardrobe a revamp before the new season, or a company revamping its image after a scandal.
It's not about small tweaks—it's about taking something that already exists and giving it new life. A chef might revamp a classic recipe with modern ingredients, or a company might revamp its website to make it easier to use. It suggests a serious effort to make something better, more current, or more effective. You would not usually revamp a broken toaster—you would replace it. But you absolutely could revamp your living room by repainting, rearranging furniture, and adding new decor.
To revamp means to significantly restructure, renovate, or improve something—often with the goal of making it more modern, efficient, or appealing. It goes beyond simple repairs or minor adjustments; a revamp involves substantial changes to bring about a noticeable improvement.
You might hear about companies revamping their business strategies in response to changing market conditions. For example: "The company decided to revamp its marketing campaign to target a younger audience." Or perhaps a city council will vote to revamp the downtown area, adding new parks and pedestrian walkways.
Revamp can also be used on a personal level. You might revamp your diet for health reasons, or revamp your daily routine to become more productive. "She revamped her entire wardrobe after losing weight," suggests she made significant changes to her clothing choices.
The word implies a deliberate effort to overhaul something that is already in place—to give it a fresh start and make it better suited to current needs or preferences. It's about taking an existing foundation and building something new and improved on top of it. Unlike "repair," which focuses on fixing what is broken, "revamp" focuses on making something better than before.
So whether you're talking about businesses, cities, personal habits, or even recipes—to revamp is to undertake a substantial transformation for the sake of improvement and renewal.
Examples
- 1
Website redesign
The company revamped its website to make it easier to use.
- 2
Menu update
The cafe revamped its menu this spring and added more vegetarian dishes.
- 3
Workplace training
We're revamping how we train new staff.
Pattern
revamp how + clause
change and improve the way something is done
- 4
Sports strategy
The new coach wants to revamp the team's defense before the season starts.
- 5
Public transport
After years of complaints, the city finally revamped the bus system.
- 6
Theater renovation
The old theater got a complete revamp before reopening.
Phrase
get a revamp
be changed and improved
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- revampverb
Forms
- revampedpast tenseverb
- revamping-ing formverb
- revampsverb