resurrection

resurrection — noun

1. a situation or process in which something returns to activity, importance, or us

1.nounC1
Definition

a situation or process in which something returns to activity, importance, or use after being weak, forgotten, or no longer active

Example

After years of decline, the theatre saw a resurrection when a new owner took over.

collocation: 'saw a resurrection' (experience a revival)

The resurrection of the local market brought more shoppers and new jobs to the town.

pattern: resurrection of + noun phrase

Common collocations
  • economic resurrection
  • cultural resurrection
  • political resurrection
  • experience a resurrection
  • undergo a resurrection
  • witness a resurrection
  • remarkable resurrection
  • miraculous resurrection
Synonyms
  • revival

    more general and less dramatic; does not imply the thing was as close to disappearing

  • resurgence

    emphasises a return with renewed strength or energy; often used for movements or trends

  • renaissance

    suggests a cultural or artistic rebirth, often with a sense of flourishing

Antonyms
  • decline

    the opposite process — a steady loss of strength or importance

  • extinction

    complete disappearance, with no possibility of return

Grammar Patterns

a/in + resurrection + of + noun phrase

the + resurrection + of + noun phrase

Usage Note

Often used in metaphorical contexts about economies, cultural traditions, careers, or ideas. Implies a significant period of decline or near-disappearance before recovery — not used for simple restarts or short pauses.

Common Mistakes

The company had a resurrection after a one-week break.
The company had a revival after a one-week break.
'resurrection' is too strong for a short pause; it suggests near-total decline.
The doctor performed a resurrection on the patient.
The doctor performed a resuscitation on the patient.
'resurrection' is not used for medical revival of a person.

2. in Christianity, the event of Jesus Christ coming back to life three days after

2.nounB2
Definition

in Christianity, the event of Jesus Christ coming back to life three days after his crucifixion, or the belief that God will raise all dead bodies when history comes to its final close

Example

Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus every year on Easter Sunday.

pattern: 'the resurrection of + Jesus'

Nora's grandmother described the resurrection of the dead as a key promise of her faith.

pattern: 'the resurrection of the dead'

Common collocations
  • the Resurrection (capitalised)
  • the resurrection of Christ
  • the resurrection of the dead
  • the resurrection of the body
  • resurrection faith
  • resurrection hope
  • celebrate the resurrection
  • believe in the resurrection
  • Easter resurrection
Synonyms
  • rising from the dead

    more descriptive; used when the listener may not be familiar with the term 'resurrection'

  • raising

    more formal or theological ('the raising of Lazarus'); emphasises the action of God

Antonyms
  • death

    the state that resurrection reverses

  • crucifixion

    in the Christian story, the event of Jesus's death that precedes the resurrection

Grammar Patterns

the + Resurrection (capitalised)

the + resurrection + of + Jesus / Christ / the dead

Usage Note

When referring specifically to the event of Jesus rising from the dead, the word is often capitalised ('the Resurrection'). The uncapitalised form ('the resurrection of Christ') is also common. Not used outside Abrahamic religious traditions to describe beliefs about life after death.

Common Mistakes

Buddhists believe in the resurrection of the soul.
Buddhists believe in the rebirth or reincarnation of the soul.
'resurrection' specifically refers to the body coming back to life, which is a Christian and Jewish concept, not reincarnation.
Idioms

resurrection plant

idiom

a type of plant that dries up completely during dry weather and then turns green and grows again when it gets water

Tamar bought a resurrection plant at the market and watched it turn green after she added water.

resurrection fern

idiom

a fern that grows on trees in warm regions; it turns brown and looks dead in dry conditions but becomes green again after rain

After the first rainfall, the resurrection fern on the oak branches turned from brown to bright green.

Word family

  • resurrect
    verbC1
  • resurrected
    adjectiveC1
  • resurrectional
    adjectiveC2
  • resurgence
    nounC1
  • resurgent
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe something coming back after a period of decline, but they differ in scope and connotation. 'Revival' is the most general and neutral — it simply means something becomes active or popular again (a revival of interest in board games). 'Resurgence' suggests a strong, forceful return, often with increased energy (a resurgence of nationalist politics). 'Renaissance' implies a rich cultural or artistic flowering, modelled on the European Renaissance period, and often lasts longer (the renaissance of downtown Detroit). 'Renewal' focuses on the process of making something fresh or valid again, and is often used for organisations, cities, or personal commitments (a renewal of the peace agreement). 'Resurrection' is the most dramatic of the group — it implies that the thing was not just weak but effectively finished or dead, so its return feels almost miraculous (the economic resurrection of a rust-belt city). Use 'revival' for everyday comebacks, 'resurgence' for forceful returns, 'renaissance' for cultural rebirths, 'renewal' for refreshed conditions, and 'resurrection' only when the comeback is from near-total disappearance.

revival ↗resurgencerenaissance ↗renewal ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • the resurrection of
  • a resurrection from

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

The word 'resurrection' comes from Latin 'resurrectio', which means 'a rising again'. This Latin word was formed from 'resurgere' — 're-' meaning 'again' and 'surgere' meaning 'to rise' or 'to lift up'. The word entered English through Old French 'resurrection' in the 13th century, first used in Christian contexts to describe Jesus rising from the dead before later gaining a broader figurative meaning.