reenact

verb

re·​en·​act ˌrē-ə-ˈnakt How to pronounce reenact (audio)
reenacted; reenacting; reenacts
Synonyms of reenactnext

transitive verb

1
: to enact (something, such as a law) again
2
: to act or perform again
3
: to repeat the actions of (an earlier event or incident)
reenactment noun

Examples of reenact in a Sentence

The group reenacted a famous American Civil War battle.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The first festival-like celebration occurred in 1927, when a group of school children reenacted the first tree planting, Mayhew said. Chandelis Duster, NPR, 23 Mar. 2026 Every year on the 10th of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar and the same day as the Battle of Karbala, Shiite Muslims inside and outside of Iran observe Ashura and commemorate the slaying of Hussain by reenacting his death and performing self-flagellation, among other rituals. Eric Lob, The Conversation, 2 Mar. 2026 On culturally significant days of the year, performers from what’s known as the Danza Azteca communities gather to reenact the dances of their ancestors. John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 1 Mar. 2026 Then Lisa and Yam Yam attempt to reenact the whole thing. Tom Smyth, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for reenact

Word History

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of reenact was in 1613

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Reenact.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reenact. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

reenact

verb
re·​en·​act ˌrē-ə-ˈnakt How to pronounce reenact (audio)
1
: to enact again
2
: to perform again
reenactment noun

More from Merriam-Webster on reenact

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster