reconstruct
verb
re·con·struct
ˌrē-kən-ˈstrəkt 
reconstructed; reconstructing; reconstructs
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
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
John PeckExamples 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
Five thousand Minnesotans came out in the frigid January cold on opening weekend to see an actual house that had been reconstructed inside the museum, like a ship in a bottle.
—Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
Led by James Tour, PhD, a chemistry and materials science and nanoengineering professor at Rice University, the study aimed to reconstruct Edison’s original light bulb experiments using modern analytical tools.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 26 Jan. 2026
Mill Street will be reconstructed with trees and permeable pavers to slow runoff.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 26 Jan. 2026
Sutter’s Fort Sutter’s Fort has been reconstructed at its original location.
—Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reconstruct
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Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
Led by James Tour, PhD, a chemistry and materials science and nanoengineering professor at Rice University, the study aimed to reconstruct Edison’s original light bulb experiments using modern analytical tools.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 26 Jan. 2026
Mill Street will be reconstructed with trees and permeable pavers to slow runoff.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 26 Jan. 2026
Sutter’s Fort Sutter’s Fort has been reconstructed at its original location.
—Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reconstruct
Cite this Entry
“Reconstruct.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reconstruct. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
reconstruct
verb
re·con·struct
ˌrē-kən-ˈstrəkt
Medical Definition
reconstruct
transitive verb
re·con·struct
ˌrē-kən-ˈstrəkt
: to subject (an organ or part) to surgery so as to re-form the structure of or to correct a defect
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