rebuild

verb

re·​build (ˌ)rē-ˈbild 

rebuilt (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

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

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 on the Web

Opened in 1911 to replace a predecessor that burned down in 1909, it was rebuilt with a water tank as storage for future firefighting efforts, Shingle said. —Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2025

The original hotel, built in 1893, was located on Fifth Avenue and 34th Street, and in 1931 was rebuilt on a city block that stretches between Park and Lexington Avenues, and 49th and 50th Streets. —Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 28 June 2025

He’s been known to help friends in the community cut down trees and rebuild parts of their homes after storms. —Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 27 June 2025

Recovery involves slowly rebuilding that inner trust. —Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 27 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1537, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for rebuild

• backfilled
• distilled
• fulfilled
• infilled
• instilled
• refilled
• unfilled
• unskilled
• untilled
• billed
• build
• chilled

Kids Definition

rebuild

verb

re·​build (ˈ)rē-ˈbild 

rebuilt -ˈbilt  ; rebuilding

1

: to make important repairs to or changes in

rebuild an old house

2

: to build again

planned to rebuild after the fire