Review
noun, verb ·Very common ·Middle school level
Definitions
- 1 A second or subsequent reading of a text or artifact in an attempt to gain new insights. countable, uncountable
"I need to make a review of the book before I can understand it."
- 2 a subsequent examination of a patient for the purpose of monitoring earlier treatment wordnet
- 3 An account intended as a critical evaluation of a text or a piece of work. countable, uncountable
"The newspaper review was full of praise for the play."
- 4 a formal or official examination wordnet
- 5 A judicial reassessment of a case or an event. countable, uncountable
"The victims demanded a full judicial review of the case."
Show 14 more definitions
- 6 practice intended to polish performance or refresh the memory wordnet
- 7 A stage show made up of topical sketches etc. countable, uncountable
"The Cambridge Footlights Review launched many Monty Python faces."
- 8 (law) a judicial reexamination of the proceedings of a court (especially by an appellate court) wordnet
- 9 A survey of the available items or material. countable, uncountable
"The magazine contained a review of Paris restaurants."
- 10 a new appraisal or evaluation wordnet
- 11 A review article. countable, uncountable
- 12 an essay or article that gives a critical evaluation (as of a book or play) wordnet
- 13 A periodical which makes a survey of the arts or some other field. countable, uncountable
"The Times Literary Review is published in London."
- 14 a summary at the end that repeats the substance of a longer discussion wordnet
- 15 A military inspection or display for the benefit of superiors or VIPs. countable, uncountable
"The troops assembled for a review by the Queen."
- 16 a periodical that publishes critical essays on current affairs or literature or art wordnet
- 17 A forensic inspection to assess compliance with regulations or some code. countable, uncountable
"The regulators demanded a review against NYSE practices."
- 18 a variety show with topical sketches and songs and dancing and comedians wordnet
- 19 (accounting) a service (less exhaustive than an audit) that provides some assurance to interested parties as to the reliability of financial data wordnet
- 1 To survey; to look broadly over.
"Before I tackle the question directly, I must briefly review historical approaches to the problem."
- 2 look at again; examine again wordnet
- 3 To write a critical evaluation of a new art work etc.; to write a review.
"The critic reviews every new play in London."
- 4 look back upon (a period of time, sequence of events); remember wordnet
- 5 To look back over in order to correct or edit; to revise.
""Keith Williams is reviewing his review," the source said. "The whole structure of the industry has changed since he wrote his report. [...]""
Show 6 more definitions
- 6 hold a review (of troops) wordnet
- 7 To look over again (something previously written or learned), especially in preparation for an examination. Canada, Philippines, US, sometimes, transitive
- 8 refresh one's memory wordnet
- 9 To view or see again; to look back on. obsolete
"Cam[illo] What I do next, ſhall be next to tell the King // Of this Eſcape, and whither they are bound: // Wherein my hope is, I ſhall ſo prevail, // To force him after: in whoſe company // I ſhall review Sicilia; for whoſe ſight, // I have a Woman’s Longing."
- 10 appraise critically wordnet
- 11 To retrace; to go over again. obsolete
"Shall I the long, laborious ſcene review, // And open all the wounds of Greece anew?"
Example
More examples"Did you try to review the English lessons?"
Etymology
From Middle English revewe, reveue, from Old French reveüe, revue (Modern French: revue), feminine form of reveü, past participle of reveoir (French: revoir), from Latin revideō, from re- +videō (“see, observe”) (English: video). Equivalent to re- + view. Compare retrospect. Doublet of revue.
Related phrases
More for "review"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.