Aromatic alcohol-lignin-aldehyde resins and process for making and using same. In some examples, a process for making a resin can include heating a first mixture that includes a lignin, an aromatic alcohol, and a base compound to produce a second mixture that can include an activated lignin, the aromatic alcohol, and the base compound. The second mixture can be heated with an aldehyde to produce a third mixture that can include an aromatic alcohol-lignin-aldehyde resin and unreacted free aldehyde. In some examples, an aromatic alcohol-lignin-aldehyde resin can be or include a co-polymer of an activated lignin, an aromatic alcohol, and an aldehyde. A weight ratio of the activated lignin to the aromatic alcohol can be about 20:80 to about 95:5.