re·boot
(ˌ)rē-ˈbüt
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
reboot an old TV series
… decided to reboot the idea as a tribute concert.—Matt Wake
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
b
intransitive
: to start anew : to make a fresh start
The interior designer's heart was telling her to reboot and downsize …—Susan Heeger
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
Cite this Entry
“Reboot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reboot. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.
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