reboot

1 of 2

verb

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

reboot

2 of 2

noun

re·​boot ˈrē-ˌbüt 

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

Examples of reboot in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The resulting value in providing a measured approach to patching prioritization without the need to reboot hardware or adhere to cumbersome and lengthy software maintenance windows is compelling. — Will Townsend, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Administrators rely on them to monitor the physical status of large fleets of servers and to perform a variety of tasks, including rebooting machines, installing updates, and even reinstalling operating systems. — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 5 Aug. 2026

Noun

In terms of returning for the new reboot of the series, Electra is open to putting on the iconic red one-piece once again, since her former love interest on the show, David Chokachi has signed on to return. — Lori A Bashian , Larry Fink, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2026

It has recently been reported that a significant number of people at original Quake developer id Software were laid off amid Microsoft’s major Xbox reorganization; however, most of that studio has been more focused on the recent Doom reboot series. — Samuel Axon, ArsTechnica, 7 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1971, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1980, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for reboot

• acute
• aleut
• astute
• beetroot
• breadfruit
• cheroot
• commute
• compute
• confute
• dilute
• dispute
• elute