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
Celona, who has promised to resuscitate the city’s entertainment industry by fast-tracking film permits and cutting red tape, trails far behind.
—
Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026
The 38-year-old Perth resident was taken by boat to the holiday island where paramedics were unable to resuscitate him.
—ABC News, 24 May 2026
The prosecution used the recording throughout the trial to call into question whether Kouri was even trying to resuscitate Eric.
—Natalie Morales, CBS News, 24 May 2026
In Coconut Grove, Martin and Terra built or co-developed three big high-rise luxury condo projects — seven towers in all — that, while controversial among many residents, helped resuscitate what had been a senescent village center.
—Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for resuscitate
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Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026
The 38-year-old Perth resident was taken by boat to the holiday island where paramedics were unable to resuscitate him.
—ABC News, 24 May 2026
The prosecution used the recording throughout the trial to call into question whether Kouri was even trying to resuscitate Eric.
—Natalie Morales, CBS News, 24 May 2026
In Coconut Grove, Martin and Terra built or co-developed three big high-rise luxury condo projects — seven towers in all — that, while controversial among many residents, helped resuscitate what had been a senescent village center.
—Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for resuscitate
Cite this Entry
“Resuscitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/resuscitate. Accessed 28 May. 2026.
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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