reconstruct

verb

re·​con·​struct ˌrē-kən-ˈstrəkt How to pronounce reconstruct (audio)
reconstructed; reconstructing; reconstructs

transitive verb

1
: to construct again: such as
a
: to build or assemble (something) again
reconstruct a damaged chimney
b
medical : to subject (an organ or part) to surgery to re-form its structure or correct a defect
an athlete with a surgically reconstructed shoulder
2
a
: to re-create or reimagine (something from the past) especially by using information acquired through research
reconstructing a lost civilization
The solution is to reconstruct the vocabularies of vanished ancient languages (so-called protolanguages) by comparing vocabularies of modern languages derived from them.Jared Diamond
b
: to create an accurate reenactment or understanding of (a past occurrence or event, such as an accident) by applying scientific principles and techniques to physical evidence
McDaniel hired the firm to reconstruct a fiery collision in Limestone County several years ago in which two young women were killed when their car was engulfed in flames.John Peck
reconstructible adjective
reconstructive adjective
reconstructor noun

Examples of reconstruct in a Sentence

After the earthquake, many houses needed to be reconstructed. Archaeologists were able to reconstruct most of the ancient village from their findings. They are attempting to reconstruct the events that led to the bridge's collapse.
Recent Examples on the Web Since Hallie’s umbilical cord was attached to the omphalocele, Fisher had to surgically reconstruct her belly button. Wendy Grossman Kantor, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024 One of those challenges is the college football postseason — specifically, reconstructing the CFP to suit the needs of two conferences that have added a slew of brand names in recent years. Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2024 Our whole purpose, our maximum effort, was trying to reconstruct a historical reality. Boris Sollazzo, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Feb. 2024 Traditional cameras can’t capture polarization data, but the metasurfaces can pull in this information and send it to the image sensor to reconstruct it. Julian Chokkattu, WIRED, 26 Feb. 2024 Others have said these funds, estimated to be at least $300 billion, should be used to reconstruct the country after the war is over. Mark Landler, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2024 To reconstruct the immediate environment around a black hole, Kara turns to the X-ray light given off by the accretion disk. Michael Greshko, Quanta Magazine, 12 Feb. 2024 They were reconstructed and renovated to create an attractive new cultural hub in the heart of Selfoss. Selfoss is also the place to dive into the Icelandic superfood, skyr. David Nikel, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2024 Researchers virtually reconstructed how the wall likely appeared during the Stone Age. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 12 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reconstruct.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1762, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of reconstruct was in 1762

Dictionary Entries Near reconstruct

Cite this Entry

“Reconstruct.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reconstruct. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

reconstruct

verb
re·​con·​struct ˌrē-kən-ˈstrəkt How to pronounce reconstruct (audio)
: to construct again : rebuild, remodel

Medical Definition

reconstruct

transitive verb
re·​con·​struct ˌrē-kən-ˈstrəkt How to pronounce reconstruct (audio)
: to subject (an organ or part) to surgery so as to re-form the structure of or to correct a defect
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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