reboot

1 of 2

verb

re·​boot (ˌ)rē-ˈbüt How to pronounce reboot (audio)
rebooted; rebooting; reboots
1
a
transitive + intransitive : to shut down and restart (a computer or program)
… the annoyance of having to reboot the computer to switch operating systems …Robert Weston
If anything ever happens to the original drive, you can reboot using the cloned drive and be up and running in minutes.Dan Frakes
b
intransitive : to start up again after closing or shutting down : to boot up again
waiting for a computer/program to reboot
2
a
transitive : to start (something) anew : to refresh (something) by making a new start or creating a new version
It's probably not an overstatement to say Sandberg is embarking on the most ambitious mission to reboot feminism and reframe discussions of gender since the launch of Ms. magazine in 1971.Belinda Luscombe
reboot an old TV series
b
intransitive : to start anew : to make a fresh start
The interior designer's heart was telling her to reboot and downsize …Susan Heeger

reboot

2 of 2

noun

re·​boot ˈrē-ˌbüt How to pronounce reboot (audio)
plural reboots
1
: the act or an instance of shutting down and restarting something (such as a computer or program)
In a few cases, errors cause a headlong exit to DOS or the software ceases to operate, requiring a reboot.George F. Hepner
2
: the act or an instance of starting (something) anew or making a fresh start
In a massive reboot last fall, all 200 rooms were done up in geometric rugs and curvy leather headboards.Jen Murphy

Examples of reboot in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Understanding the need for advanced process control in semiconductor chip manufacturing, the company decided to reboot the product portfolio and start over from scratch. Jon Stojan, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024 Speaking to The Independent, Hudson shared his thoughts on the 2016 movie, which was meant to reboot the iconic series at the time but underperformed at the box office. Benjamin Vanhoose, Peoplemag, 25 Mar. 2024 Press and hold both the volume down and power button for 7 to 10 seconds to force the phone to reboot. John Tufts, The Courier-Journal, 23 Feb. 2024 All six helped reboot the longtime franchise last summer when season 14 premiered. Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 28 Mar. 2024 Earlier this week, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band rebooted their world tour, following a pause that began last fall due to Springsteen's health concerns. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 22 Mar. 2024 One ad account manager lost a Thanksgiving weekend struggling to upload a series of 15-second video ads for a major client, because inexplicably, the tool kept rebooting, over and over. Paresh Dave, WIRED, 14 Mar. 2024 What started as another chance to reboot Japan’s greatest pop-cinematic import had expanded into a franchise, with the end goal being to get both of those horror-movie heavyweights into one multiplex ring. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 Mar. 2024 After several attempts to reboot one of the great fantasy classics of world literature, See-Saw Films, producer of Oscar winners The King’s Speech and The Power of the Dog, has signed a deal to adapt The Neverending Story as a series of live-action feature films. Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Mar. 2024
Noun
Remakes and reboots are redefining the game industry. Gabriela Riccardi, Quartz, 21 Apr. 2024 Netflix's Fuller House ran from 2016 to 2020 and was a reboot of the beloved ’80s-’90s sitcom Full House, which featured widower Danny Tanner (Bob Saget) raising three daughters with the help of his brother-in-law Jesse (John Stamos) and best friend Joey (Dave Coulier). Esther Kang, Peoplemag, 19 Apr. 2024 Daniels recently tapped Koman to co-create the project, which the prolific writer-producer does not consider to be a reboot of his 2005 mockumentary. Lesley Goldberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Apr. 2024 Moreover, the reboot has an antiquated feel, as if someone wrote the scripts decades ago and unearthed them in the present, barely adding tweaks or updates. Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 12 Apr. 2024 Ronnie stepped away from the reboot after he was arrested twice on domestic abuse cases, most recently for suspicion of intimate partner violence in April 2021 in Los Angeles. Chris Jordan, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024 Other great reads Another ‘Melrose Place’ reboot is in the works, with a trio of original stars returning. Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024 Not much else is known about the upcoming reboot but be on the lookout for any and all suspicious wigs. Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 11 Apr. 2024 Leighton and Zuniga will resume their roles in the reboot to costar along with Heather Locklear. Elizabeth Wagmeister, CNN, 11 Apr. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reboot.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1971, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1980, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of reboot was in 1971

Dictionary Entries Near reboot

Cite this Entry

“Reboot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reboot. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.

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