1
: a retaking possession
especially : entry by a lessor on leased premises on the tenant's failure to perform the conditions of the lease
2
: a second or new entry
3
: a playing card that will enable a player to regain the lead
4
: the action of reentering the earth's atmosphere after travel in space

Examples of reentry in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Montalvo has worked in the reentry space for almost 20 years. Amber Gaudet july 18, Charlotte Observer, 18 July 2026 The satellites, though, will be on the same suborbital trajectory as Ship, and are expected to burn up during reentry through Earth's atmosphere. Josh Dinner, Space.com, 16 July 2026 The primary goal is to evaluate how the Starship’s heat shield — a coating of hexagonal tiles designed to protect the ship from the scorching temperatures of reentry — performs. Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 16 July 2026 All 20 satellites are expected to burn up on reentry in Earth’s atmosphere about 20 minutes postdeployment. Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 16 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for reentry

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of reentry was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Reentry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reentry. Accessed 27 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

1
: a second or new entry
2
: the action of reentering the earth's atmosphere after travel in space

Medical Definition

plural reentries
: a cardiac mechanism that is held to explain certain abnormal heart actions (as tachycardia) and that involves the transmission of a wave of depolarization along an alternate pathway when the original pathway is blocked with return of the impulse along the blocked pathway when the alternate pathway is refractory and then transmission along the open pathway resulting in an abnormality

Legal Definition

: a retaking possession of property by a lessor or grantor in exercise of the right to do so upon the failure of the lessee or grantee to fulfill a covenant or condition see also power of termination at power sense 2b

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