revision

revision — noun

1. A change made to a document, plan, law, or piece of writing in order to improve

1.nounB2
Definition

A change made to a document, plan, law, or piece of writing in order to improve it, correct it, or keep it up to date.

Example

The company's safety rules underwent a major revision after the factory inspection found several problems.

undergo + revision (passive construction)

Trang proposed several revisions to her report draft before sending it to the manager.

propose + revision + to [document]

Common collocations
  • major revision
  • minor revision
  • propose a revision
  • undergo revision
  • revision of policy
  • revision to the contract
  • need revision
Synonyms
  • alteration

    suggests a smaller, more specific change than revision

  • modification

    often used for technical or systematic changes

  • amendment

    formal, typically used for laws, rules, or official documents

  • update

    implies bringing something up to date rather than fixing errors

Antonyms
  • preservation

    keeping something in its original state without changes

Grammar Patterns

revision + of + noun

revision + to + noun

make/propose/undergo revision

Usage Note

Frequently uncountable when referring to the process itself ('undergo revision', 'in need of revision'), and countable when referring to individual changes ('three revisions', 'a revision to clause 4').

Common Mistakes

I need to do a revision of my essay before submitting.
I need to revise my essay before submitting.
'do a revision' is not natural for the action; use the verb 'revise' for the personal act of improving your own work.

2. The activity of reading through and practising material you have already learned

2.nounA2
Definition

The activity of reading through and practising material you have already learned, so that you are ready for an examination.

Example

Caio spent the whole weekend doing revision for his final physics examination.

do revision + for [exam subject]

The teacher gave the class a list of revision topics before the test next month.

Common collocations
  • do revision
  • revision notes
  • revision guide
  • revision session
  • revision timetable
  • revision for the exam
  • revision class
Synonyms
  • studying

    broader term that includes learning new material, not just reviewing

  • review

    American English equivalent; also used in British English but less commonly than 'revision'

  • cramming

    informal; refers to last-minute, intensive revision just before an exam

Grammar Patterns

do revision

revision + for + exam

revision + noun (attributive)

Usage Note

Most common in British English. In American English, 'review' or 'studying' is used instead. 'Do revision' is a fixed collocation — 'make revision' is not used in this sense.

Common Mistakes

I have to make revision for my exam.
I have to do revision for my exam.
'do revision' is the correct collocation for studying before a test.

3. A new form of a book, document, or article that contains corrections, improvemen

3.nounB2
Definition

A new form of a book, document, or article that contains corrections, improvements, or new material added after the original version.

Example

The publisher released a new revision of the dictionary with over two thousand added words.

release + a revision + of [publication]

Ezra submitted a novel revision after his editor asked for changes to the final chapter.

Common collocations
  • new revision
  • third revision
  • revision of the book
  • publish a revision
  • issue a revision
  • online revision
Synonyms
  • new edition

    typically used for books published again with substantial changes

  • update

    often digital or software-focused; a revision can be minor or major

  • rewrite

    implies more thorough changes than a revision; often a complete reworking

Antonyms
  • original

    the first version before any changes were made

Grammar Patterns

revision + of + noun

publish/issue/release a revision

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1: sense 3 refers to the resulting product (the new version itself), while sense 1 focuses on the process of changing or individual changes made.

Word family

  • revise
    verbB1
  • reviser
    nounC1
  • revisionist
    nounC1
  • revisionist
    adjectiveC1
  • revisionism
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All five words refer to the act of changing something, but they differ in scope and formality. Revision is the broadest term, covering any change made to improve or correct a document, plan, or piece of writing — it often implies a thorough re-examination. Amendment is the most formal, used almost exclusively for laws, contracts, and official rules (e.g., 'the First Amendment to the Constitution'). Modification suggests a technical or systematic change, often to a machine, design, or process rather than a text. Alteration is more general and can apply to physical objects (e.g., 'alterations to a dress') or to plans. Update refers specifically to bringing something up to date with new information, especially in digital contexts. In everyday use: when an editor asks for changes to an article, they are 'revisions'; when a software company fixes bugs, they release an 'update.'

revision ↗amendment ↗modification ↗alterationupdate ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • revision process
  • revision date
  • revision history
  • revision number
  • revision control

Adverbs

  • completely revised
  • substantially revised
  • recently revised
  • partially revised

Phrases

  • in need of revision
  • subject to revision
  • undergo revision

Prepositions

  • revision of
  • revision to
  • revision in

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'revision' comes from Latin 'revisio', meaning 'a seeing again,' formed from the prefix 're-' (again) and the verb 'videre' (to see). It entered English in the early 1600s via French 'révision', first referring to the act of looking over a text again, and later expanded to include studying for exams and producing updated editions.