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
This is what reactivated post-traumatic stress disorder looks like: threads that hang out from the dryer.
—Andie Townhouse, Chicago Tribune, 30 May 2025
These cysts can reactivate and cause additional episodes of severe illness that damage critical organ systems.
—Bill Sullivan, The Conversation, 28 May 2025
In addition, coronavirus infection can reactivate latent viruses, which may contribute to autoimmunity.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2025
This virus can be reactivated many years later and manifests as shingles.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reactivate
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Andie Townhouse, Chicago Tribune, 30 May 2025
These cysts can reactivate and cause additional episodes of severe illness that damage critical organ systems.
—Bill Sullivan, The Conversation, 28 May 2025
In addition, coronavirus infection can reactivate latent viruses, which may contribute to autoimmunity.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2025
This virus can be reactivated many years later and manifests as shingles.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reactivate
Cite this Entry
“Reactivate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reactivate. Accessed 9 Jun. 2025.
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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