What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
rehabilitate
Example
The athlete underwent rehabilitation after his knee surgery. [rehabilitation: noun]
Example
The government is investing in programs to rehabilitate drug addicts. [rehabilitate: verb]
restore
Example
The museum restored the painting to its original condition. [restore: verb]
Example
The company is restoring the historic building to its former glory. [restoring: gerund or present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Restore is more commonly used than rehabilitate in everyday language. Restore is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while rehabilitate is less common and often used in specific medical or legal contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between rehabilitate and restore?
Both rehabilitate and restore can be used in formal and informal contexts, but rehabilitate may be more associated with formal or technical language due to its medical or legal connotations.