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

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

reboot an old TV series

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

Although Hathaway did suggest the possibility of rebooting the movie with a new cast. —Rebecca Aizin, People.com, 23 May 2025

Millennials, now the largest generation in the U.S., are a force in today’s art market, rebooting the rules of collecting. —Suzanne Wright, USA Today, 22 May 2025

Noun

This latest entry in the storied franchise – stemming from the classic 1984 film which spawned multiple sequels as well as a popular and recently concluded series on Netflix – will feature ‘OG’ Karate Kid Ralph Macchio along with Jackie Chan, who fulfilled the Mr. Miyagi duties in 2010’s reboot. —Dan Heching, CNN Money, 23 May 2025

Hoult, who stars as villain Lex Luthor in the upcoming Superman reboot, bought the 2,337-square-foot house for $2.33 million in 2018, according to listing records. —Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 22 May 2025

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