reactivate
verb
re·ac·ti·vate
(ˌ)rē-ˈak-tə-ˌvāt 
reactivated; reactivating; reactivates
1
transitive
: to activate (something or someone) again
… turning the dough (gently folding it over onto itself between the first and second rises) reactivates the yeast without pressing out as much air.—
Erika Bruce
: such as
Erika Bruce
a(1)
: to restore (an organized group such as a military unit) to an active state (as from a state of disorganization or deactivation)
(2)
: to restore (an individual) to active duty
He was reactivated after 9/11 and sent to Afghanistan for a year.—Pam Kragen
Pam Kragen
(3)
: to cause (something such as an industrial plant, society, program, or commission) to function again after a suspension of activity
Started in 1987 and reactivated two years ago, the Leadership Shelby County program takes the participants through the process of developing and launching efforts to improve the community.—John Walker
John Walker
b
psychology
: to cause (something such as a repressed complex) to reappear in consciousness or behavior
Feelings of inferiority were reactivated by the experience.
c
medical
: to cause (a quiescent disease) to become active again
tuberculosis that was reactivated by fatigue
2
intransitive
: to become active again
… a painful nerve and skin disorder that occurs when the immune system weakens in older people and the virus, which never entirely leaves the body, reactivates.—Alison L. Sprout
Alison L. SproutExamples of reactivate in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
At 20 mph, the motor will cut out and the cyclist will have to pedal the bike to reactivate it.
—Stephanie Pearson, WIRED, 8 Sep. 2024
Musk threatened to reactivate the accounts, prompting Moraes to open a separate inquiry into his possible obstruction of justice.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 30 Aug. 2024
Earlier in 2024, port operator PSA sought to further alleviate congestion by reactivating some of the berths and yard space at its Keppel and Tanjong Pagar city terminals, which had been closed as operations move to Tuas Port by 2027.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 5 July 2024
Soon after Hong Kong reactivated inbound tourism, our business and inbound tourism strategies paid off, the park said in a statement.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 25 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for reactivate 
Stephanie Pearson, WIRED, 8 Sep. 2024
Musk threatened to reactivate the accounts, prompting Moraes to open a separate inquiry into his possible obstruction of justice.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 30 Aug. 2024
Earlier in 2024, port operator PSA sought to further alleviate congestion by reactivating some of the berths and yard space at its Keppel and Tanjong Pagar city terminals, which had been closed as operations move to Tuas Port by 2027.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 5 July 2024
Soon after Hong Kong reactivated inbound tourism, our business and inbound tourism strategies paid off, the park said in a statement.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 25 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for reactivate
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reactivate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near reactivate
Cite this Entry
“Reactivate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reactivate. Accessed 17 Sep. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
reactivate
transitive verb
re·ac·ti·vate
(ˈ)rē-ˈak-tə-ˌvāt
reactivated; reactivating
: to activate again : cause to be again active or more active: as
a
: to cause (as a repressed complex) to reappear in consciousness or behavior
persecution feelings reactivated by new social failures
b
: to cause (a quiescent disease) to become active again in an individual
a herpes infection reactivated by physical and emotional stresses
c
: to restore complement to (an inactivated serum) by addition of fresh normal serum
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