revamp

revamp — verb

1. to give something a completely new look or structure by making major changes to

1.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to give something a completely new look or structure by making major changes to it, with the aim of making it more modern, efficient, or attractive

Example

The company plans to revamp its website to attract younger customers.

revamp + noun phrase for modernising

Maeve spent six months revamping the kitchen with new cabinets and modern appliances.

revamp + noun phrase (physical space)

Common collocations
  • revamp a website
  • revamp the curriculum
  • revamp the kitchen
  • revamp the system
  • revamp the image
  • revamp a store
Synonyms
  • renovate

    more common for buildings and physical spaces; less common for abstract systems

  • overhaul

    suggests a more thorough, often mechanical or systematic inspection and repair

  • refurbish

    focuses on cleaning and decorating to restore a like-new appearance

  • upgrade

    emphasises improving quality or capability rather than changing structure

Antonyms
  • neglect

    to fail to give proper care or attention to something

  • ruin

    to damage something so badly that it loses its value or function

Grammar Patterns

revamp + noun phrase

Usage Note

Commonly used in business, technology, design, and education contexts. The object can be a physical space (kitchen, store) or an abstract system (curriculum, policy, website).

Common Mistakes

The team revamped the problem after the meeting.
The team revamped the system after the meeting.
'revamp' takes the thing being improved as its object, not the issue being solved.

revamp — noun

Word family

  • revamped
    adjectiveB2
  • revamping
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four words describe improving something by changing it, but they differ in scope and typical use. 'Revamp' is the broadest — it works for websites, curricula, kitchens, and corporate images alike. 'Renovate' is almost always used for buildings or physical spaces; you renovate a bathroom, not a policy. 'Overhaul' suggests a deep, systematic fix — an engine or an entire IT system gets overhauled, often because something is broken. 'Refurbish' focuses on restoring appearance rather than structure — you refurbish old furniture or a hotel lobby. For everyday improvements that mix looks and function, 'revamp' is the most natural choice: 'We revamped the office layout and the staff loved it.'

revamp ↗renovate ↗overhaulrefurbish

Common collocations

Nouns

  • plan to revamp
  • need to revamp
  • attempt to revamp
  • project to revamp

Adverbs

Phrases

  • give something a revamp
  • undergo a revamp

Prepositions

Etymology

Old FrenchAnglo-NormanMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'revamp' was formed in English by adding the prefix 're-' ('again') to 'vamp', which originally meant the front upper part of a shoe. In the 1800s, 'revamp' literally meant to give a shoe a new vamp. Over time, the meaning broadened to any kind of renewal or improvement — first for clothing and furniture, then for systems, organisations, and abstract things.