revalue
C1Formal/Business/Technical
Definition
Meaning
To assess the value of something again, often to assign a new, usually higher, value.
To reconsider the importance, worth, or status of something (e.g., a currency, an asset, a social role). In currency contexts, it specifically means to raise the official value in relation to other currencies.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word implies an official, deliberate, and often upward revision of a previously established value. The opposite action is 'devalue.' It often carries a nuance of correction or recognition of increased worth.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The spelling is consistent.
Connotations
Slightly more common in British financial news due to historical discussions around pound sterling revaluation.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both dialects, confined to specific contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Agent] revalued [Patient] (e.g., The government revalued the currency).[Patient] was revalued by [Agent] (e.g., The property was revalued by the assessor).Revalue [Patient] at [New Value] (e.g., They revalued the land at £2 million).Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None directly associated; it is a technical term]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Central banks may revalue their currency to combat inflation or reflect economic strength.
Academic
The study aims to revalue the contributions of overlooked figures in medieval science.
Everyday
After the renovations, we had to get the house revalued for insurance.
Technical
The accountant advised the firm to revalue its intangible assets annually.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The council will revalue all business properties for the new tax year.
- There is speculation that China might revalue the renminbi.
American English
- The county assessor revalued our home, significantly increasing our property tax.
- Investors are pressuring the government to revalue the currency.
adverb
British English
- [No direct adverb form from 'revalue'. Related concept: 'The assets were subsequently revalued.']
American English
- [No direct adverb form from 'revalue'. Related concept: 'The land was officially revalued upwards.']
adjective
British English
- [The word 'revalue' is not used as an adjective. Use 'revalued' as a participle adjective, e.g., 'revalued assets'.]
American English
- [The word 'revalue' is not used as an adjective. Use 'revalued' as a participle adjective, e.g., 'the recently revalued estate'.]
Examples
By CEFR Level
- [Too advanced for A2]
- The company will revalue its office building next month.
- My jewellery was revalued for the insurance claim.
- Economists debated whether the central bank should revalue the national currency to control inflation.
- Following the merger, all the acquired assets had to be revalued at market price.
- The decision to revalue the currency was a strategic move to attract foreign investment and curb capital flight.
- Modern scholarship seeks to revalue the work of female philosophers who were marginalized in their own time.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: RE-do the VALUation. It's a RE-VALUation.
Conceptual Metaphor
WORTH IS HEIGHT (to revalue is to raise the 'level' of something's worth).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'переоценивать' (pereozenivat'), which means 'to overestimate' or 're-evaluate' in a general sense. 'Revalue' is more specific and official. For currency, 'повысить курс' (povysit' kurs) is closer.
- The prefix 're-' does not always correspond perfectly to Russian 'пере-'. Here, it's more about a formal re-calculation.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'revalue' for personal, emotional reassessment (use 're-evaluate').
- Confusing 'revalue' (increase value) with 'devalue' (decrease value).
- Misspelling as 're-value' (the hyphen is generally unnecessary).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the use of 'revalue' MOST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Revalue' is specifically about assigning a new monetary or quantitative value, often officially. 'Re-evaluate' is broader and means to reconsider or judge something again, which can be qualitative (e.g., re-evaluate a policy, a relationship).
Primarily, yes. In standard economic and financial terminology, 'revalue' means to increase the official value. The opposite action is 'devalue'. However, in a very general sense (outside finance), it can mean to assign any new value, but the upward connotation is strong.
No, 'revalue' is a transitive verb. It requires a direct object (e.g., revalue the currency, revalue an asset). You cannot say 'The currency revalued.' You must say 'The currency was revalued' or 'They revalued the currency.'
It is a relatively rare and significant monetary policy event, as it disrupts international trade and financial flows. It is more common in fixed or managed exchange rate regimes than in freely floating ones.
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