rebuild

verb re·build \ (ˌ)rē-ˈbild \

Updated on: 24 Apr 2018

Definition of rebuild

rebuilt play \(ˌ)rē-ˈbilt\; rebuilding

transitive verb

1 a : to make extensive repairs to : reconstruct

rebuild a war-torn city

b : to restore to a previous state

rebuild inventories

2 : to make extensive changes in : remodel

rebuild society

intransitive verb

: to build again

planned to rebuild after the fire

See rebuild defined for English-language learners

See rebuild defined for kids

Examples of rebuild in a Sentence

He rebuilt his house after it was destroyed by a fire.
They tried to rebuild after the earthquake.
The new owner plans to rebuild the franchise.
The team is rebuilding after losing most of its top players.

Recent Examples of rebuild from the Web

There are people who have lost their homes entirely and can’t afford to just buy a new one, areas that will never see vegetation grow again, and roads and other infrastructure that will take years to rebuild.

— carly graf, Outside Online, "Laird Talks About Rescuing People From Hawaii's Floods," 20 Apr. 2018
In fact, last December, Trump asked the Saudis for $4 billion to rebuild Syria, but Riyadh has yet to accept that proposal.

— alex ward, Vox, "Trump wants Arab nations to send troops into Syria. That’s a spectacularly bad idea.," 17 Apr. 2018
Money raised went to rebuild kitchens and shore up police presence.

— denise coffey, Courant Community, "Steve Bousquet Memorial Golf Tournament Will Fund Area Scholarships," 10 Apr. 2018
From this angle, Entireworld looks like a savvy business play—but also like a bigger, bolder, somehow more ambitious attempt to rebuild that lost Band utopia.

— sam schube, GQ, "Scott Sternberg on His New Line, His Exit from Band of Outsiders, and Making Clothes for the Entire World," 4 Apr. 2018
For example, a project to rebuild the Advanced Photon Source, an x-ray synchrotron at Argonne National Laboratory in Lemont, Illinois, would get $93 million.

— adrian cho, Science | AAAS, "Science at Department of Energy gets a hefty raise in final 2018 budget," 23 Mar. 2018
But while the chaotic aftermath of the storm and the efforts to rebuild the island have been front-and-center, there’s another crisis brewing in Puerto Rico, though less visible.

— refinery29.com, "Life, Interrupted: The Invisible Scars Hurricane Maria Has Left On The Women Of Puerto Rico," 19 Mar. 2018
Eggs are a complete protein, containing all 9 essential amino acids necessary to rebuild the muscles and tissues in our bodies.

— caroline walder, Good Housekeeping, "Here's Why Eggs Are One of the Best Things You Can Eat," 1 Mar. 2018
Chicago could soon embark on an eight-year, $8.5 billion effort to rebuild much of O’Hare International and turn it into a global aviation hub on par with those in Dubai and Hong Kong.

— paul brady, Condé Nast Traveler, "Chicago O’Hare Eyes New ‘Global Terminal’ in $8.5 Billion Expansion Plan," 27 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rebuild.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of rebuild

1537

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

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Synonym Discussion of rebuild

mend, repair, patch, rebuild mean to put into good order something that is injured, damaged, or defective. mend implies making whole or sound something broken, torn, or injured.

- mended the torn dress

repair applies to the fixing of more extensive damage or dilapidation.

- repaired the back steps

patch implies an often temporary fixing of a hole or break with new material.

- patch worn jeans

rebuild suggests making like new without completely replacing.

- a rebuilt automobile engine

REBUILD Defined for English Language Learners

rebuild

verb

Definition of rebuild for English Language Learners

: to build (something) again after it has been damaged or destroyed
: to make important improvements or changes in (something)

REBUILD Defined for Kids

rebuild

verb re·build \ ˌrē-ˈbild \

Definition of rebuild for Students

rebuilt \-ˈbilt\; rebuilding

1 : to make important repairs to or changes in

I'm rebuilding an old house.

2 : to construct again

Learn More about rebuild

See words that rhyme with rebuild Spanish Central: Translation of rebuild Nglish: Translation of rebuild for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of rebuild for Arabic speakers

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rebuild

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rebuild

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rebuild

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rebuild

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rebuild

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