resurgence
C1Formal / Neutral
Definition
Meaning
A significant increase or revival of something that was declining or inactive.
A renewed, often powerful, rise in activity, popularity, or influence after a period of decline.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Typically implies a positive or notable return to strength or prominence. It often carries a sense of overcoming a period of difficulty or decline.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage.
Connotations
Equally formal/conceptual in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American academic/political writing, but common in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
resurgence of [NOUN]resurgence in [NOUN/ING]see a resurgence ofVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A phoenix-like resurgence”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to a recovery in market demand, profits, or economic activity.
Academic
Used to describe the renewed popularity of a theory, trend, or field of study.
Everyday
Commonly used regarding fashion, music, or cultural trends making a comeback.
Technical
In medicine/epidemiology, describes the re-emergence of a disease.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The team hopes to resurge in the second half of the season.
- Support for the policy began to resurge after the scandal faded.
American English
- The company managed to resurge after its restructuring.
- Interest in vinyl records has resurged in recent years.
adverb
British English
- The movement grew resurgently.
- (Rare usage)
American English
- Support for the idea spread resurgently.
- (Rare usage)
adjective
British English
- The resurgent team climbed the league table.
- Dealing with resurgent inflation is the bank's priority.
American English
- The resurgent economy created new jobs.
- She is a resurgent force in the political arena.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Vinyl records have seen a resurgence.
- There has been a resurgence of interest in traditional crafts.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: RE (again) + SURGE (a sudden powerful forward movement) + ENCE (state of). It's the state of surging again.
Conceptual Metaphor
A WAVE/RISING TIDE metaphor ('a resurgence of support'), or a FIRE metaphor ('a resurgence of violence flared up').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct cognate 'ресургенс' – it doesn't exist. Use 'возрождение', 'оживление', 'подъём', or 'всплеск' depending on context.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing spelling: 'resurgance' (incorrect). Forgetting it's a noun; using it as a verb ('to resurgence' is wrong; correct verb is 'resurge').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses 'resurgence' INCORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral but context-dependent. It describes a notable increase, which can be positive (a resurgence in the arts) or negative (a resurgence of crime).
They are close synonyms. 'Resurgence' often emphasizes the force, speed, or power of the comeback, while 'revival' can imply a more deliberate act of restoring something.
No, 'resurgence' is exclusively a noun. The corresponding verb is 'resurge' or 'revive'/'renew'.
The most common errors are misspelling it (e.g., 'resurgance') and incorrectly trying to use it as a verb.