reattach

verb

re·​at·​tach (ˌ)rē-ə-ˈtach 

reattached; reattaching; reattaches

1

transitive : to attach (something) again

reattach the hoses

reattaching the retina to underlying tissue

2

intransitive : to become attached anew

The dentist will probably bond that tooth to the adjacent teeth for a number of weeks until it reattaches.

—The Explorer (Tucson, Arizona)

reattachment

(ˌ)rē-ə-ˈtach-mənt 

noun

plural reattachments

reattachment of a severed finger

reattachment surgery

Modern treatment for detached retina may include reattachment of the retina with a laser (like spot-welding) or freezing small areas (cryotherapy).

—Richard P. Holm

Examples of reattach in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Reattach & Run Water The last step is to reattach your showerhead and turn on the water to flush any remaining vinegar from the spouts. — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 21 Sep. 2026

When scrubbing is complete, reattach the bottle and flush the nozzle by spraying it several times. — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 20 Aug. 2026

Baker's husband was waiting for surgery to reattach the piece of his ear when the trooper left the hospital. — Ana Maria Soler, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026

The airliner returned to the skies because the NTSB determined that maintenance workers damaged the plane that crashed by improperly using a forklift to reattach the engine. — Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 19 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1751, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for reattach

• attach
• bycatch
• despatch
• detach
• dispatch
• mismatch
• nuthatch
• potlatch
• bache
• batch
• brach
• catch

Medical Definition

reattach

intransitive verb

re·​at·​tach ˌrē-ə-ˈtach 

: to become attached anew

transitive verb

: to attach again

reattach a severed finger

reattachment

-mənt 

noun