Review noun or verb

English[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

• re-view (rare for noun, obsolete for verb)

Etymology[edit]

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.

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA(key): /ɹɪˈvjuː/
• Rhymes: -uː

Noun[edit]

review (plural reviews)

1. A second or subsequent reading of a text or artifact in an attempt to gain new insights.

   I need to make a review of the book before I can understand it.

2. An account intended as a critical evaluation of a text or a piece of work.
   • 1971, Peter Brown, The World of Late Antiquity: AD 150—750, Thames & Hudson LTD (2013 reprint), →ISBN, page 54. The more strongly people felt about their ideas, the more potent the demons seemed to them: Christians believed that traditional paganism, far from being the work of men, was an 'opium of the masses', pumped into the human race by the non-human demons; and one scholar even ascribed bad reviews of his book to demonic inspiration!

   The newspaper review was full of praise for the play.

3. (law) A judicial reassessment of a case or an event.

   The victims demanded a full judicial review of the case.

4. A stage show made up of topical sketches etc. Synonym: revue

   The Cambridge Footlights Review launched many Monty Python faces.

5. A survey of the available items or material.

   The magazine contained a review of Paris restaurants.

6. A periodical which makes a survey of the arts or some other field.

   The Times Literary Review is published in London.

7. A military inspection or display for the benefit of superiors or VIPs.

   The troops assembled for a review by the Queen.

8. A forensic inspection to assess compliance with regulations or some code.

   The regulators demanded a review against NYSE practices.

Derived terms[edit]

• board of review
• capsule review
• judicial review

Translations[edit]

second or subsequent reading of a text or artifact

account intended as a critical evaluation of a text or a piece of work

judicial reassessment of a case or an event

stage show made up of sketches

Translations to be checked

Verb[edit]

review (third-person singular simple present reviews, present participle reviewing, simple past and past participle reviewed)

2. To survey; to look broadly over.

   Before I tackle the question directly, I must briefly review historical approaches to the problem.

3. To write a critical evaluation of a new art work etc.; to write a review.

   The critic reviews every new play in London.

   • 2014 December 23, David E. Sanger, “Countering cyberattacks without a playbook [print version: A cyberwar with no playbook, International New York Times, 26 December 2014, p. 18]”, in The New York Times‎[1]:

     […] "The Interview," a crude and poorly reviewed comedy about a C.I.A. effort to hire two bumbling journalists to knock off Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader […]

4. To look back over in order to correct or edit; to revise.

   • 2020 July 29, Paul Clifton, “Network Rail lined up to 'take control' of rail services”, in Rail, page 6:

     "Keith Williams is reviewing his review," the source said. "The whole structure of the industry has changed since he wrote his report. [...]"

5. (transitive, US, Canada) To look over again (something previously written or learned), especially in preparation for an examination. Synonym: (UK, Australia, New Zealand) revise
6. (obsolete) To view or see again; to look back on.

   • c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The VVinters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act IV, scene iv]:

     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.

7. (obsolete) To retrace; to go over again.

   • 1725, Homer; [Alexander Pope], transl., “Book III”, in The Odyssey of Homer. […], volume I, London: […] Bernard Lintot, OCLC 8736646, lines 127–128, page 113:

     Shall I the long, laborious ſcene review, // And open all the wounds of Greece anew?

Translations[edit]

to look broadly over

to write a review

[edit]

• reviewer
• reviewability
• medireview
• rereview

See also[edit]

• retrospect
• revise (v.)

Anagrams[edit]

• viewer

Is review a noun verb or adjective?

What is the verb for review?

What is the noun form for review?

Is review a countable noun?