revamp

Etymology

The verb is derived from re- (prefix meaning ‘again, anew’) + vamp (“to patch, repair, or refurbish”). The noun is derived from the verb.

verb

1. (transitive) To improve, renew, renovate, or revise (something).
   They plan to revamp the historical theater in the old downtown.
   But the great man Thomas Carlyle] has great littlenesses, the original sometimes revamps old thoughts, the strong reasoner may beg his question and build a strong hypothesis on assumed premises, and the clear writer frequently gets into the predicament which formed the countryman's definition of a metaphysical colloquy— […] 21 May 1842, “The International Copy-right Law”, in Brother Jonathan: A Weekly Compend of Belles Lettres and the Fine Arts, Standard Literature, and General Intelligence, volume II, number 4, New York, N.Y.: Wilson & Company,[…], →OCLC, page 74, column 1
   [T]hey did not revise, revamp, and reiterate the argument that I have heard so often from that side of the Chamber, and sometimes on this, that it would be very wicked and wrong and unpatriotic for this Republic to compel by force, against the will of the people, the annexation of the Philippine Islands to the United States. 10 February 1899, Marriott Henry Brosius, “Sundry Civil Appropriation Bill”, in Congressional Record: […] (United States House of Representatives, 55th Congress, 3rd session), volume XXXII, Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, →OCLC, page 1692, column 1
   The audience snickered, and Nan saw the startled flash of pain in his sunken eyes. His long fingers closed convulsively as he nerved himself to face them, and then, with a gulp of nervousness he began his monologue of ancient conundrums and jokes, not too skilfully revamped. 1914, Caroline Lockhart, “The Foreman of the L.X.”, in The Full of the Moon, Philadelphia, Pa., London: J[oshua] B[allinger] Lippincott Company, →OCLC, page 53
   He went back to his play like an opium-smoker back to his drug. He revised and re-arranged and revamped. He closed his eyes, valiantly, and cut away whole act-ends, at one grim stroke, like a surgeon operating on his own flesh and blood. 1920 December, Arthur Stringer, “A Sense of Humor: A Christmas Story”, in Canadian Home Journal, volume 17, number 8, Toronto, Ont.: Home Journal Pub. Co., →OCLC, page 8, columns 2–3
   The tools of government which we had in 1933 are outmoded. We have had to forge new tools for a new role of government in democracy—a role of new responsibility for new needs and increased responsibility for old needs, long neglected. […] Most of us recognize that none of these tools can be put to maximum effectiveness unless the executive processes of government are revamped—reorganized, if you will—into more effective combination. 4 January 1939, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, President of the United States, “Message of the President of the United States [Sixth State of the Union Address]”, in Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the 76th Congress, First Session (joint session of the United States Senate and House of Representatives), volume 84, part 1, Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office, →ISSN, →OCLC, pages 75–76
   There was a great demand for cars, but as the trade fell off people became more particular and it was found necessary to revamp the construction of nearly all the cars, the Buick and the Cadillac excepted, but the other three cars were in very bad condition and had to be rebuilt entirely on new lines. 14 June 1955, Pierre S[amuel] du Pont (witness), United States of America, Appellant, vs. E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, et al.: Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois:[…], volume I (Transcript of Record), Washington, D.C.: Judd & Detweiler, →OCLC, page 841
   When we learned that the O.E.D. Online was revamped late last year, we jumped at the chance to learn more about how this esteemed publication (which first stirred to life in 1857) was adapting itself for a modern online audience. 14 January 2011, J. D. Biersdorfer, “ArtsBeat: The revamped O.E.D. Online”, in New York Times Blog, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, archived from the original on 2021-02-07
   We must harness new ideas and technology to remake our government, revamp our tax code, reform our schools, and empower our citizens with the skills they need to work harder, learn more, and reach higher. 21 January 2013, Barack Obama, “Inaugural Address by President Barack Obama”, in The White House, archived from the original on 2021-08-06
   "We'll work on revamping our strategy in the morning," I say, "Now I think we all need some sleep. It's been a long night." 2021, MarcyKate Connolly, Heartless Heirs, Grand Rapids, Mich.: Blink, HarperCollins

noun

1. An act of improving, renewing, renovating, or revising something; an improvement, renovation, revamping, or revision.
   a revamp of a website
   The following appear rather like revamps of old versions absolutely than absolutely new jokes: […] 1848 March, “Holden’s Review: The Family Joe Miller [book review]”, in Holden’s Dollar Magazine, volume I, number III, New York, N.Y.: Charles W. Holden, →OCLC, page 182
   To be sure, there have been many innovations introduced in that time, but upon examination it will be discovered that, in nearly all cases, they were a revamp of things which had been used before, and abandoned for want of experience in their use and proper facilities for perfecting them. 1884, Stephen Roper, “Steam-engine Economy”, in The Engineer’s Handy-book. Containing a Full Explanation of the Steam-engine Indicator, and Its Use and Advantages to Engineers and Steam Users.[…], 7th edition, Philadelphia, Pa.: E. Claxton & Company,[…], →OCLC, 4th part, page 326
   Major opportunities to reduce energy usage in the mid-term also exist through retrofitting and/or replacement of existing equipment nearing the end of its useful life and during major refinery revamps that are periodically undertaken to meet market/environmental dictates. 1999, M. Petrick, J. Pellegrino, “An Assessment of Carbon Reduction Technology Opportunities in the Petroleum Refining Industry”, in Baldur Eliasson, Pierce Reimer, Alexander Wokaun, editors, Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies: Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies, 30 August – 2 September 1988, Interlaken, Switzerland, Kidlington, Oxfordshire: Pergamon, Elsevier Science, page 929
   Sales still dwindled, so a revamp was ordered in 1969 to bring the character more in line with heroines in then-popular TV shows like The Avengers and The Mod Squad. The revamp was instigated by Justice League artist Mike Sekowsky, who had Wonder Woman renounce her powers so she could stay on Earth. 2007, Christopher Knowles, “The Amazons”, in Our Gods Wear Spandex: The Secret History of Comic Book Heroes, San Francisco, Calif.: Weiser Books, page 163
   There is no denying that this RAZR model is leaps and bounds ahead of its older brethren. Welcomed updates and even revamps will certainly appeal well to the small following behind Motorola phones, although the lack of a really distinct "wow" factor will do little to convince Nokia regulars to jump ship. 2007 April, Leon Ryan, “Motorola RAZR V3xx”, in Ismet Bachtiar, editor, GameAxis Unwired, Singapore: Hardware Zone, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 84, column 4
   Also for new products, a revamp of an existing process to produce this new product is to be considered. Revamps are modifications of existing processes. Revamps are applicable to operations, equipment operation conditions, and also to input and output changes – applicable in all process industries. 2012, Gerald Jonker, Jan Harmsen, “Creating Design Solutions”, in Engineering for Sustainability: A Practical Guide for Sustainable Design, Amsterdam, Kidlington, Oxfordshire: Elsevier, page 67
   Work on the Grade 1-listed building starts early next year, with LMJV (Lang O'Rourke and J. Murphy & Sons) to carry out the revamp. 13 January 2021, Richard Clinnick, “HS2 Reaches Key Milestones and Gears Up for a Busy 2021”, in Rail, number 922, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire: Bauer Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, pages 12–13