resuscitate
verb
re·sus·ci·tate
ri-ˈsə-sə-ˌtāt 
resuscitated; resuscitating
: to revive from apparent death or from unconsciousness
also
: revitalize
Did you know?
The 16th century was a good one for words ending in the suffix -ate. Not only did our featured word, resuscitate, breathe life into the English language but so did the verbs anticipate ("to give advance thought, discussion, or treatment to"), eradicate ("to do away with completely"), estimate ("to esteem" or "to appraise"), and perpetuate ("to make perpetual"). It was a good century for words about words, too—vocabulary, quip, and hearsay all premiered as well.
Examples of resuscitate in a Sentence
The patient stopped breathing but doctors were able to resuscitate him.
she hopes to resuscitate the currently defunct charity organization
Recent Examples on the Web
Cuomo has the backing of major unions and senior Democrats like Jim Clyburn, the 84-year-old South Carolina kingmaker who all but resuscitated Joe Biden's 2020 campaign.
—
Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
He was resuscitated on the field and taken to the hospital in critical condition, where he was diagnosed with commotio cordis, a rare condition caused by a blunt force to the chest that disrupts the heart's rhythm.
—Doc Louallen, ABC News, 16 June 2025
John Moncayo, a spokesperson for Olathe police, said Ferguson was found unconscious at the pool and could not be resuscitated by first responders.
—Bella Waters, Kansas City Star, 10 June 2025
This was common for actors playing opposite one another, such as Mackenzie Astin and Rebecca Tilney, who share emotional scenes as siblings torn over resuscitating their dying father.
—Jenelle Riley, Variety, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for resuscitate
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Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
He was resuscitated on the field and taken to the hospital in critical condition, where he was diagnosed with commotio cordis, a rare condition caused by a blunt force to the chest that disrupts the heart's rhythm.
—Doc Louallen, ABC News, 16 June 2025
John Moncayo, a spokesperson for Olathe police, said Ferguson was found unconscious at the pool and could not be resuscitated by first responders.
—Bella Waters, Kansas City Star, 10 June 2025
This was common for actors playing opposite one another, such as Mackenzie Astin and Rebecca Tilney, who share emotional scenes as siblings torn over resuscitating their dying father.
—Jenelle Riley, Variety, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for resuscitate
Cite this Entry
“Resuscitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/resuscitate. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
resuscitate
verb
re·sus·ci·tate
ri-ˈsəs-ə-ˌtāt
resuscitated; resuscitating
1
: to bring back from apparent death or from unconsciousness
2
Medical Definition
resuscitate
transitive verb
re·sus·ci·tate
ri-ˈsəs-ə-ˌtāt
resuscitated; resuscitating
: to revive from apparent death or from unconsciousness
resuscitate a nearly drowned person by artificial respiration
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