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Synonyms

restoration

American  
[res-tuh-rey-shuhn] / ˌrɛs təˈreɪ ʃən /

noun

  1. the act of restoring; renewal, revival, or reestablishment.

  2. the state or fact of being restored.

  3. a return of something to a former, original, normal, or unimpaired condition.

  4. restitution of something taken away or lost.

  5. something that is restored, as by renovating.

  6. a reconstruction or reproduction of an ancient building, extinct animal, or the like, showing it in its original state.

  7. a putting back into a former position, dignity, etc.

  8. Dentistry.

    1. the work, process, or result of replacing or restoring teeth or parts of teeth.

    2. something that restores or replaces teeth or parts of teeth, as a filling, crown, or denture.

  9. the Restoration,

    1. the reestablishment of the monarchy in England with the return of Charles II in 1660.

    2. the period of the reign of Charles II (1660–85), sometimes extended to include the reign of James II (1685–88).

adjective

  1. (initial capital letter) of, relating to, or characteristic of the Restoration.

    Restoration manners.
restoration 1 British  
/ ˌrɛstəˈreɪʃən /

noun

  1. the act of restoring or state of being restored, as to a former or original condition, place, etc

  2. the replacement or giving back of something lost, stolen, etc

  3. something restored, replaced, or reconstructed

  4. a model or representation of an extinct animal, landscape of a former geological age, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Restoration 2 British  
/ ˌrɛstəˈreɪʃən /

noun

  1. history

    1. the re-establishment of the monarchy in 1660 or the reign of Charles II (1660–85)

    2. ( as modifier )

      Restoration drama
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Restoration Cultural  

  1. The return of constitutional monarchy in Britain in the late seventeenth century. The Stuarts were placed back on the throne; the first of them after the Restoration was King Charles II.

Discover More

The Restoration is known as a period of comparative gaiety in England after the severe days of government by the Puritans. Plays, in particular, had been banned by the Puritans; a large number, notably comedies, were produced during the Restoration.

Other Word Forms

  • antirestoration adjective
  • nonrestoration noun
  • post-Restoration noun
  • pre-Restoration adjective
  • prerestoration adjective
  • prorestoration adjective

Etymology

Origin of restoration

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Late Latin restaurātiōn-, stem of restaurātiō; equivalent to restore + -ation

Explanation

A restoration is when you bring something back to what it was. A crumbling house that is lovingly-rebuilt in its original style, a king who was kicked off his throne only to get it back — these are restorations. Notice the difference between renovation and restoration. If you restore a 1950s house, you use period materials and effects. A renovation might include new things. Restoration always means a putting back: if you've been ill, but get better, you might talk about your restoration of health.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing restoration

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The 4K restoration of “I Shot Andy Warhol” opens June 12 at New York’s IFC Center, with a national rollout to follow.

From Salon • Apr. 29, 2026

The Severn Rivers Trust said the money raised would pay for river restoration, improving water quality, protecting wildlife habitats and flood resilience.

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026

"Aspirations for a better future must also make peace with the past through restoration of Indigenous and traditional sovereignty over lands and waters."

From Science Daily • Apr. 19, 2026

Unified School District plan to explore the restoration of the space, with a timeline of at least two years.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2026

The restoration yielded some of the Hunley’s long-held secrets.

From "Shipwrecked!" by Martin W. Sandler

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.