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

Decades later, the series was rebooted as a drama series, Bel-Air, that ran for four seasons, from 2022 to 2025. —Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026

The Onion, now under the ownership of tech exec Jeff Lawson, has been rebooting itself in a bid to return to its subversive comedy roots. —Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 20 Apr. 2026

Noun

Barovier&Toso, the Murano glass lighting company founded in 1295, has undergone a reboot by its art director, designer Luca Nichetto, who enlisted a roster of international designers to create forward-looking products. —Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 6 May 2026

Following his breakout role in Ryan Murphy’s limited series, there is talk of him playing Batman down the road in James Gunn’s DC Universe’s next reboot. —Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 6 May 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