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Prepositions after verbs

Revive by or revive in?

Revive is often used without a preposition. By and in can follow revive in different contexts, but they usually introduce cause, method, or location.

Quick answer

How do by and in work with revive?

Revive commonly appears without a preposition: revive the economy, revive interest. Revive by often introduces the method or cause. Revive in usually appears with places, fields, or situations where something becomes active again.

The treatment revived the patient.
Sales were revived by lower prices.
Interest in vinyl records has been revived in recent years.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
revive + object

Bringing something back

Revive commonly takes a direct object.

The campaign helped revive the brand.
The coach tried to revive team morale.
2
revive by + method/cause

Showing how something is restored

By introduces the action or factor that causes revival.

The town was revived by tourism.
Energy levels were revived by a short break.
3
revive in + place/field

Showing where something returns

In can introduce a location, period, or area where revival happens.

Traditional music has been revived in rural communities.
Debate about the issue was revived in parliament.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
revive by
The industry was revived by foreign investment.
by introduces the cause or method
revive in
Interest was revived in schools across the city.
in introduces the place or context
revive + object
They hope to revive the project.
directly restore something
revive with
The soup revived him with its strong flavour.
with introduces an accompanying detail, not a fixed pattern

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Adding an unnecessary preposition

Revive often takes a direct object without a preposition.

✕ They revived to the business. ✓ They revived the business.

Using in for a cause

Use by for the factor that causes revival.

✕ The economy was revived in tax cuts. ✓ The economy was revived by tax cuts.

Using by for a location

Use in for places or contexts.

✕ Interest revived by universities. ✓ Interest revived in universities.

Confusing revive and recover

Revive usually means restore something or become active again.

✕ He revived from the flu for two weeks. ✓ He recovered from the flu after two weeks.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The market was revived ___ government support.
2. Interest in poetry has revived ___ some schools.
3. They hope to revive ___ old tradition.

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Frequently asked questions

Can revive be used without a preposition?

Yes. Revive commonly takes a direct object, such as revive a tradition or revive the economy.

What does revive by mean?

It usually explains the cause or method that restores something.

Is revive in grammatical?

Yes, when in introduces a place, field, or situation where revival happens.

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