renovate
verb
What renovate means
To repair and improve an old building so that it looks new again.
They renovated the old farmhouse last year.
We are renovating the kitchen this summer.
Test yourself
Five questions about renovate
-
Question 1 of 5Meaning
What does renovate mean?
When you renovate a house, you do big work on it, like new floors, a new kitchen or new wiring, so the old place becomes modern and in good condition.
-
Question 2 of 5Situation
The new owners fixed the roof, put in a new kitchen and replaced all the old windows and floors. They completely ___ the house.
Repairing the roof and putting in a new kitchen, windows and floors is a big job that makes an old house like new, so they renovated it.
-
Question 3 of 5Gap
The town hall has been closed for two years while builders ___ it.
Builders who work on an old building for two years are doing big repairs and improvements, which is what it means to renovate it.
-
Question 4 of 5Similar word
Which word is closest in meaning to renovate?
To modernise a building is to bring it up to date with new things, which is close to renovating it. To demolish a building is to knock it down.
-
Question 5 of 5Correct use
Which sentence uses renovate correctly?
You renovate a building by repairing and improving it. A colour is changed or painted, a new app is created, and the noun is renovation, not renovate.
Keys 1 to 4 pick an answer, Enter goes on.
Renovate in a sentence
5 more examples of renovate in everyday situations.
- At home
We’re renovating the bathroom, so we’re showering at the gym this month.
- The news
The city plans to renovate the old train station next year.
- In the passive
The hotel was fully renovated two years ago.
- Real estate
They bought a cheap house, renovated it and sold it for a profit.
- Advice
Get three quotes from builders before you renovate anything big.
How to use renovate
Renovate is stronger than redecorate. It can include walls, floors, kitchens, wiring and plumbing. The noun is renovation or renovations.
Do not confuse it with innovate, which means to introduce new ideas.
Forms
- renovateshe/she/it
- renovatedpast / adjective
- renovating-ing form
- renovationnoun
Patterns
- renovate a house / kitchen
- be renovated
- do renovations
- closed for renovation
Common mistakes with renovate
-
NotWe renovated the colour of the walls.
SayWe repainted the walls.
Renovate means a bigger job than painting.
Renovate or redecorate or restore?
- renovate or redecorate
- Redecorate means changing the look of a room with new paint, wallpaper or furniture. Renovate means bigger repair work, such as new floors, wiring or plumbing.
- renovate or restore
- Restore means bringing something old back to how it was originally, like a historic church. Renovate means repairing and improving it, often with modern things.
Renovate is a C1 word. Is that your level? Take the level test or count the words you know.
Renovate word family and collocations
The words that go with renovate, so you can use it in a whole phrase.
Common collocations
- renovate a house
- a fully renovated flat
- kitchen renovation
- renovate an old building
- under renovation
Word family
- renovate (verb)
- renovation (noun)
- renovated (adjective)
Similar words
- do up
- modernise
Questions about renovate
What is the noun of renovate?
The noun is renovation. It is often plural when it means building work: “The renovations took six months.” You can also say “The museum is closed for renovation.”
Renovate or innovate?
Renovate means repairing and improving a building. Innovate means introducing new ideas or methods, for example in business or technology. The two words are not related in meaning.
The word before
Do you still remember faint?
One question about the word from 23 October. Remembering a word a day later helps it stay.
One question
-
What does faint mean?
If you faint, you suddenly fall down and stop being aware of anything for a few seconds, for example on a very hot day or after a shock.
Keys 1 to 4 pick an answer.
More home words
-
B2
bargain
Something you buy for less than its normal price. -
C1
snooze
To sleep lightly for a short time, or to press the snooze button on an alarm to get a few more minutes of sleep. -
B2
routine
The things you do regularly in the same order every day or week. -
C1
potluck
A meal where each guest brings a dish to share. -
B1
afford
To have enough money or time to buy or do something. -
C1
appliance
A machine for use in the home, such as a washing machine, fridge or kettle.