revoice: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 / Rare / SpecializedFormal, Technical (Linguistics, Music)
Quick answer
What does “revoice” mean?
To give a new voice to something.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To give a new voice to something; to adjust the voice or sound of.
To express again in different words; to revoice an opinion. In phonetics/linguistics, to change a voiceless sound to a voiced one. In music/organ building, to adjust the tone or tuning of pipes or reeds.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. Spelling follows standard national conventions (e.g., 'revoice' not 're-voice').
Connotations
Slightly more likely in British English in musical/organ contexts due to historical tradition. In American English, perhaps slightly more associated with corporate/PR discourse.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both varieties. Slightly higher in technical texts.
Grammar
How to Use “revoice” in a Sentence
Subject + revoice + Object (e.g., They revoiced the complaint.)Subject + revoice + Object + as + NP (e.g., She revoiced her critique as a suggestion.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “revoice” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The committee asked her to revoice the proposal in less technical terms.
- The organ builder will revoice the choir division next week.
American English
- He revoiced his objections during the second hearing.
- The phonetic process can revoice a final stop consonant.
adverb
British English
- Not commonly used.
American English
- Not commonly used.
adjective
British English
- The revoiced complaint was better received.
American English
- A revoiced statement from the press secretary was issued.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in meetings or PR to soften or reframe a message. 'The CEO asked comms to revoice the layoff announcement.'
Academic
Used in linguistics/phonetics. 'The study examined how children revoice fricatives.'
Everyday
Extremely rare. Might be used deliberately for precision. 'Could you revoice that? I didn't quite understand.'
Technical
Specific to organ maintenance or phonology. 'The technician will revoice the reed stops to produce a warmer tone.'
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “revoice”
- Using 'revoice' as a synonym for simple 'say' or 'speak'.
- Misspelling as 're-voice' (though sometimes hyphenated in older texts).
- Confusing with 'revolt' or 'revere' due to similar spelling.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While repeating means saying the same thing again, revoicing implies changing the way it is said—the words, tone, or formulation—often for a specific effect like clarity or diplomacy.
It's very rare in casual speech. Using 'rephrase', 'restate', or 'put it differently' is far more common and natural for everyday communication.
The direct noun is 'revoicing' (e.g., 'the revoicing of the organ took a week'). There is no commonly used separate noun like 'revoicement'.
It means to change a consonant from voiceless (like /p/, /t/, /s/) to voiced (like /b/, /d/, /z/) by causing the vocal cords to vibrate during its production.
To give a new voice to something.
Revoice is usually formal, technical (linguistics, music) in register.
Revoice: in British English it is pronounced /ˌriːˈvɔɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌriˈvɔɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to 'revoice'.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: RE-VOICE. To give something a VOICE again (RE-). Like pressing 'record' again to say it differently.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMUNICATION IS SOUND PRODUCTION (to give voice again); ADJUSTMENT IS TUNING (as in musical instruments).
Practice
Quiz
In which of these contexts is 'revoice' LEAST likely to be used correctly?