recreate

1 of 2

verb (1)

rec·​re·​ate ˈre-krē-ˌāt 

recreated; recreating; recreates

transitive verb

: to give new life or freshness to : refresh

supporters of preservation hope to recreate the architectural splendor that the old movie theater had when it first opened

… it became late enough to suggest tea. We had got through one brew, and the three great minds were recreating themselves with cake, when there came another knock at the door …

—G. Dosset

intransitive verb

: to take recreation

an old summer resort where families have been recreating for over a century

recreative

ˈre-krē-ˌā-tiv 

adjective

re-create

2 of 2

verb (2)

re-cre·​ate ˌrē-krē-ˈāt 

variants or recreate

re-created or recreated; re-creating or recreating; re-creates

transitive verb

: to create again

especially : to form anew in the imagination

re-creatable

ˌrē-krē-ˈā-tə-bəl 

adjective

re-creation

ˌrē-krē-ˈā-shən 

noun

re-creative

ˌrē-krē-ˈā-tiv 

adjective

re-creator

ˌrē-krē-ˈā-tər 

noun

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• freshen
• recharge
• refresh
• refreshen
• regenerate
• rejuvenate
• renew
• repair
• restore
• resuscitate
• revitalize
• revive
• revivify

Examples of recreate in a Sentence

Verb (2)

The movie set re-creates a London street of 1895.

The scene of the crime was re-created based upon police photographs.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Much of the show’s bubbly and endearing humor is how Meadows cleverly uses stage magic to re-create locales around the world from pieces of office furniture with hidden surprises. —Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2024

Studies that re-create stone tools and use them for activities like cutting can help reveal how particular stones performed. —Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 6 Apr. 2024

Four other prisons in Panama have re-created the program, and authorities in Honduras, Paraguay, El Salvador, Peru, Colombia, and Nicaragua have shown interest. —Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 4 Apr. 2024

Photo-illustration: WIRED Staff; Getty Images On Reddit and Truth Social, users have been trying to re-create the meme-stock magic for Trump Media and Technology Group—the company behind Truth Social—that boosted companies like GameStop in 2021. —William Turton, WIRED, 2 Apr. 2024

The designers of This Discord Has Ghosts in It, Will Jobst and Adam Vass, set out to re-create a specific kind of detritus that shapes our experience and communication on the internet: the IRC messages, the C-boxes, the replies and DMs that linger online long after a conversation is done. —Camille Butera, WIRED, 1 Apr. 2024

To re-create that relaxing atmosphere, apply sage green on bathroom walls and bring in some fresh greenery for natural decor. 48 Modern Bathroom Ideas for a Spa-Like Escape 4. —Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Mar. 2024

In an interview with the Toronto Sun, Cameron detailed a study that used stunt people and hypothermia experts to re-create the film’s scene — an experiment timed to the release of a remastered version of the film. —Kim Bellware, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024

The 21-year-old pop star hilariously re-created Kidman’s viral AMC Theaters speech — a dramatic video of which plays onscreen before each showing at the company’s locations across the United States — in a TikTok video posted Tuesday. —Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 27 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English recreaten, borrowed from Latin recreāre "to make new, restore, revive" — more at recreation

Verb (2)

re- + create entry 1

First Known Use

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Verb (2)

1587, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

recreate

1 of 2 verb

rec·​re·​ate ˈrek-rē-ˌāt 

recreated; recreating

1

: to give new life or freshness to

2

: to take recreation

recreative

-ˌāt-iv

adjective

re-create

2 of 2 verb

re-cre·​ate

ˌrē-krē-ˈāt

: to create again especially in the imagination

re-creation

-ˈā-shən

noun

re-creative

-ˈāt-iv

adjective