Review is a flexibleable to change shape, use, or purpose easily word with several related meanings. It can mean examining something again, refreshing your memory, giving a critical opinion, or a formal inspectiona careful official looking over or checking. As a noun, it can also mean a written evaluation, a reappraisala new judgment or reconsideration of something, or a military or official inspection.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-26. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Pronunciation

AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).

Accent: General American English

IPA: /rɪˈvjuː/

Easy pronunciation: rih-VYOOM (approximate spelling).

Stress: Stress is on the second syllable.

Verb meaning to look at again; examine again.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-26. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Review Meaning

to examine something again or check it once more

Part of speech: verb

Definition: look at again; examine again

Example: Let’s review your situation before we decide what to do.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• reexamine — A direct substitute when the meaning is to examine again.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-26. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Other Meanings of Review

Meaning 2

to study again so you remember something better

Part of speech: verb

Definition: refresh one's memory

Example: I reviewed the material before the test.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• brush up — Works well for studying again to improve recall.
• refresh — Fits the memory sense, though it is a bit broader and less exact than brush up.

Meaning 3

to evaluate something and give an opinion about its quality

Part of speech: verb

Definition: appraise critically

Example: She reviews books for the New York Times.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• critique — A strong match when review means to evaluate critically.

Meaning 4

to think back on events or a period of time

Part of speech: verb

Definition: look back upon (a period of time, sequence of events); remember

Example: She reviewed her achievements with pride.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• look back — A natural substitute for thinking back on the past.
• retrospect — A closer formal or literary substitute, not as common in everyday speech.

Meaning 5

to inspect troops or take part in an official military review

Part of speech: verb

Definition: hold a review (of troops)

Example: The commander reviewed the troops on parade.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• go over — Can fit in the sense of inspecting, but is broader and less precise.
• survey — Can overlap with official inspection, but it is less specific than review in this sense.

Meaning 6

a stage show with comedy, songs, and dance numbers

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a variety show with topical sketches and songs and dancing and comedians

Example: The theater opened with a lively musical review.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• revue — The established synonym for this entertainment sense.

Meaning 7

extra practice to improve performance or remember something

Part of speech: noun

Definition: practice intended to polish performance or refresh the memory

Example: The team had a quick review before the presentation.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• brushup — A direct synonym for this practice sense.

Meaning 8

a short summary of the main points

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a summary at the end that repeats the substance of a longer discussion

Example: The article ended with a brief review of the main arguments.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• recap — A natural everyday substitute for a short summary.
• recapitulation — Accurate, but more formal and less common.

Meaning 9

a written piece that judges and explains something like a book, movie, or play

Part of speech: noun

Definition: an essay or article that gives a critical evaluation (as of a book or play)

Example: I read a review of the new novel this morning.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• critical review — Directly matches this sense.
• critique — Works well for a critical written evaluation.
• review article — Fits mainly in academic or journalistic contexts.

Meaning 10

a fresh judgment or reassessment of something

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a new appraisal or evaluation

Example: The company ordered a review of its safety policy.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• reappraisal — A close match for a fresh evaluation.
• reassessment — A strong synonym when something is evaluated again.
• revaluation — Works best when value or worth is being judged again.

Meaning 11

a follow-up medical check

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a subsequent examination of a patient for the purpose of monitoring earlier treatment

Example: The doctor scheduled a review for next month.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• follow-up — A natural synonym in medical use.
• followup — Variant spelling of follow-up.
• reexamination — A good match for a later medical check.

Meaning 12

an official inspection or check

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a formal or official examination

Example: The platoon stood ready for review.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• inspection — A direct substitute in the official examination sense.

Meaning 13

a limited accounting check for reliability

Part of speech: noun

Definition: (accounting) a service (less exhaustive than an audit) that provides some assurance to interested parties as to the reliability of financial data

Example: The firm requested a limited review of its accounts.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• limited review — The technical accounting term for this sense.

Meaning 14

a magazine or journal of essays and criticism

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a periodical that publishes critical essays on current affairs or literature or art

Example: She subscribes to a literary review.

Meaning 15

a court’s reconsideration of a case or legal proceeding

Part of speech: noun

Definition: (law) a judicial reexamination of the proceedings of a court (especially by an appellate court)

Example: The case is under judicial review.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-26. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Review Synonyms

Similar Meaning

• reexamine

refresh one's memory

• brush up
• refresh

appraise critically

• critique

look back upon a period of time or sequence of events

• look back
• retrospect

hold a review of troops

• go over
• survey

a variety show with sketches, songs, dancing, and comedians

• revue

practice intended to polish performance or refresh the memory

• brushup

a summary at the end that repeats the main points

• recap
• recapitulation

an essay or article that gives a critical evaluation

• critical review
• critique
• review article

a new appraisal or evaluation

• reappraisal
• reassessment
• revaluation

a subsequent medical examination

• follow-up
• followup
• reexamination

a formal or official examination

• inspection

an accounting service less exhaustive than an audit

• limited review

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-26. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Common Mistakes

• Mixing up review as a verb meaning 'check again' with review as a noun meaning 'a written article' or 'a summary'.
• Using review to mean 'audit' in general accounting contexts; the technical sense is more specific and less exhaustive than an audit.
• Confusing review with revue: revue is the entertainment show sense, not a general synonym for every use of review.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-26. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main meaning of review?

The most common everyday meaning is to look at something again or examine it again.

What are the best synonyms for review?

For the main verb sense, reexamine is the closest synonym. Other senses use different synonyms such as recap, critique, or reappraisal.

Is review the same as revise?

Not exactly. Review means to check, examine, or evaluate something again. Revise usually means to change or improve something, especially writing.

Can review mean a newspaper article?

Yes. Review can mean a written piece that evaluates a book, film, play, or similar work.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-26. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.