revegetate: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low FrequencyTechnical / Academic / Environmental
Quick answer
What does “revegetate” mean?
To plant or cause vegetation to grow again in an area where it has been destroyed or removed.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To plant or cause vegetation to grow again in an area where it has been destroyed or removed.
To restore or reintroduce a plant cover to barren land, often as an environmental remediation strategy or a natural recovery process. Can also be used metaphorically for the return of any living cover.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The spelling and core meaning are identical. Usage is equally technical in both varieties.
Connotations
No significant difference in connotation.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both British and American English, confined primarily to environmental science, ecology, and land management contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “revegetate” in a Sentence
[S] + [V] + [O: area/land][S] + [V] + [O] + with [native grasses/shrubs]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “revegetate” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The council's plan is to revegetate the rubbish tip with wildflowers.
- After the fire, the heathland will take decades to revegetate naturally.
American English
- The mining company is legally required to revegetate the stripped land.
- Efforts to revegetate the coastal dunes with beach grass have begun.
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial form in use]
American English
- [No standard adverbial form in use]
adjective
British English
- The revegetated slope showed promising signs of stability.
American English
- A successfully revegetated area can prevent further soil erosion.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; might appear in reports for mining, construction, or forestry companies outlining post-operation land restoration plans.
Academic
Common in environmental science, ecology, geography, and land rehabilitation papers.
Everyday
Virtually unused in general conversation.
Technical
Standard term in agronomy, soil conservation, forestry, and ecological engineering.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “revegetate”
- Confusing with 'rejuvenate' (broader renewal). Using intransitively ('The land revegetated' is less common than 'They revegetated the land').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Revegetate' is a broader term for restoring any plant cover (grasses, shrubs, trees). 'Reforest' specifically means replanting an area with trees.
Rarely. While 'the land revegetated over time' is grammatically possible, the transitive use ('they revegetated the land') is far more common, emphasising active restoration.
No, it is a low-frequency, specialised term. You will encounter it primarily in environmental, ecological, or land management texts, not in everyday conversation.
The noun form is 'revegetation', as in 'The revegetation of the slope was a success'.
To plant or cause vegetation to grow again in an area where it has been destroyed or removed.
Revegetate is usually technical / academic / environmental in register.
Revegetate: in British English it is pronounced /ˌriːˈvedʒəteɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌriˈvedʒəteɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms directly feature 'revegetate']”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: RE- (again) + VEGETATE (grow plants). To 'vegetate' again.
Conceptual Metaphor
HEALING AS REPLANTING ('revegetating the scarred landscape'), COVERING AS CLOTHING ('the hills were revegetated in a green cloak').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'revegetate' MOST appropriately used?