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
Following a two-decade hiatus, Bikini Kill reunited for a performance in 2017, which helped reactivate the band’s touring life.
—Edward Segarra, USA TODAY, 15 May 2024
Donald Glover has reactivated his Childish Gambino alter-ego for Atavista, a revised version of the album 3.15.20, which was originally released on that date.
—Spin Staff, SPIN, 13 May 2024
In that time, Dumas has helped take Gaumont global, with international operations in L.A., the U.K. and Germany, and diversify it (back) into television, reactivating the dormant TV division.
—Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 May 2024
Recurrent herpes may happen if something triggers the virus, which lies inactive in your nerve cells, to reactivate.
—Jennifer Sabour, Health, 5 May 2024
Last night, Oakland City Council unanimously voted to approve our $1.6M plan to reactivate our city’s historic Raimondi Park.
—Shomik Mukherjee, The Mercury News, 1 May 2024
Separately, after taking over the company, Musk reactivated the accounts of Brazilian far-right politicians Carla Zambelli, Gustavo Gayer, and Nikolas Ferreira.
—Vittoria Elliott, WIRED, 9 Apr. 2024
Failure to meet these requirements by the renewal deadline, typically December 31st of the renewal year, may result in the inability to renew the license and could lead to inactive status or additional fees to reactivate the license.
—Bryce Welker, Miami Herald, 21 Feb. 2024
As was recently revealed, Beijing seems to be reactivating and upgrading its Lop Nor nuclear-testing facility.
—John R. Bolton, National Review, 25 Jan. 2024
Edward Segarra, USA TODAY, 15 May 2024
Donald Glover has reactivated his Childish Gambino alter-ego for Atavista, a revised version of the album 3.15.20, which was originally released on that date.
—Spin Staff, SPIN, 13 May 2024
In that time, Dumas has helped take Gaumont global, with international operations in L.A., the U.K. and Germany, and diversify it (back) into television, reactivating the dormant TV division.
—Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 May 2024
Recurrent herpes may happen if something triggers the virus, which lies inactive in your nerve cells, to reactivate.
—Jennifer Sabour, Health, 5 May 2024
Last night, Oakland City Council unanimously voted to approve our $1.6M plan to reactivate our city’s historic Raimondi Park.
—Shomik Mukherjee, The Mercury News, 1 May 2024
Separately, after taking over the company, Musk reactivated the accounts of Brazilian far-right politicians Carla Zambelli, Gustavo Gayer, and Nikolas Ferreira.
—Vittoria Elliott, WIRED, 9 Apr. 2024
Failure to meet these requirements by the renewal deadline, typically December 31st of the renewal year, may result in the inability to renew the license and could lead to inactive status or additional fees to reactivate the license.
—Bryce Welker, Miami Herald, 21 Feb. 2024
As was recently revealed, Beijing seems to be reactivating and upgrading its Lop Nor nuclear-testing facility.
—John R. Bolton, National Review, 25 Jan. 2024
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 20 May. 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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