re·gen·er·ate
ri-ˈje-nə-rət 
-ˈjen-rət
1
: formed or created again
2
: spiritually reborn or converted
3
: restored to a better, higher, or more worthy state
regenerately
adverb
regenerateness
noun
re·gen·er·ate
ri-ˈje-nə-ˌrāt
regenerated; regenerating; regenerates
1
a
: to subject to spiritual regeneration
b
: to change radically and for the better
2
a
: to generate or produce anew
especially
: to replace (a body part) by a new growth of tissue
b
: to produce again chemically sometimes in a physically changed form
3
: to restore to original strength or properties
re·gen·er·ate
ri-ˈje-nə-rət
-ˈjen-rət
: one that is regenerated: such as
a
: an individual who is spiritually reborn
b(1)
: an organism that has undergone regeneration
(2)
: a regenerated body part
Synonyms
Examples of regenerate in a Sentence
Verb
The lizard's tail can regenerate.
The lizard is able to regenerate its tail.
The tissue cells can regenerate themselves.
Recent Examples on the Web
Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Nov. 2023
Yet the most complex part is regenerating the optic nerve.
—Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 9 Nov. 2023
For this action, he was punished by Zeus, being chained to a rock where an eagle would eat his regenerating liver for eternity.
—Paige Hagy, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2023
Understanding the extent to which these tissues can regenerate after suffering cellular damage will uncover important clues about the brain’s ability to heal from trauma.
—WIRED, 3 Oct. 2023
One of the main hurdles is getting the optic nerve, which links the eye to the brain, to regenerate completely.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Nov. 2023
The cruelty-free For Now Ink™ lasts 1-2 weeks and fades as the skin naturally regenerates.
—Anna Tingley, Variety, 24 Oct. 2023
Chickens, as well as certain other birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians, can indefinitely regenerate their hearing by producing new hair cells inside the cochlea, the cavity of the inner ear responsible for interpreting sound.
—Ramsha Zubairi, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Oct. 2023
Research published in 2023 indicates that the kidneys, for example, can also regenerate to an extent.
—Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 6 Oct. 2023
Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 9 Nov. 2023
Movements to advocate for nature’s right to exist, thrive, and regenerate could have a myriad of positive impacts to slow biodiversity loss across the world.
—Midori Paxton, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2023
Peripheral nerves like the ones in your hand regenerate well.
—Amy Barth, Discover Magazine, 1 Mar. 2012
Powerful peptides, retinyl palmitate, hyaluronic acid and a vitamin C antioxidant complex regenerate skin with less irritation.
—Danusia Wnek, Good Housekeeping, 16 Sep. 2022
To really reenergize and to lead with high positive energy, leaders must recognize and value the regenerate state.
—Andrew Deutscher, Forbes, 16 Aug. 2022
Overnight Detox Oil by Caudalie: Simply apply onto the face at bedtime to help stressed skin regenerate overnight thanks to the omega 6 and vitamin E.
—Felicity Carter, Forbes, 6 May 2021
Medical experts say adults require between seven and nine hours of sleep a night, during which the body repairs, regenerates, and recovers.
—oregonlive, 9 Apr. 2020
At Shinji’s pleading, the EVA powers back on and physically transforms; its arm regenerates, but the limb now looks human, like Shinji’s, and the EVA roars, runs on all fours like a beast, and rabidly tears its enemy apart.
—Maya Phillips, The New Yorker, 21 June 2019
See More
Verb
The island has literally risen from the ashes and regenerated after catastrophic wildfires destroyed large parts of it in 2019 and 2020.
—Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Nov. 2023
Yet the most complex part is regenerating the optic nerve.
—Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 9 Nov. 2023
For this action, he was punished by Zeus, being chained to a rock where an eagle would eat his regenerating liver for eternity.
—Paige Hagy, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2023
Understanding the extent to which these tissues can regenerate after suffering cellular damage will uncover important clues about the brain’s ability to heal from trauma.
—WIRED, 3 Oct. 2023
One of the main hurdles is getting the optic nerve, which links the eye to the brain, to regenerate completely.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Nov. 2023
The cruelty-free For Now Ink™ lasts 1-2 weeks and fades as the skin naturally regenerates.
—Anna Tingley, Variety, 24 Oct. 2023
Chickens, as well as certain other birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians, can indefinitely regenerate their hearing by producing new hair cells inside the cochlea, the cavity of the inner ear responsible for interpreting sound.
—Ramsha Zubairi, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Oct. 2023
Research published in 2023 indicates that the kidneys, for example, can also regenerate to an extent.
—Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 6 Oct. 2023
Noun
The entire left eye and optic nerve were transplanted, and stem cells from the donor’s bone marrow were transplanted along with them in the hopes of helping the optic nerve regenerate.
—Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 9 Nov. 2023
Movements to advocate for nature’s right to exist, thrive, and regenerate could have a myriad of positive impacts to slow biodiversity loss across the world.
—Midori Paxton, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2023
Peripheral nerves like the ones in your hand regenerate well.
—Amy Barth, Discover Magazine, 1 Mar. 2012
Powerful peptides, retinyl palmitate, hyaluronic acid and a vitamin C antioxidant complex regenerate skin with less irritation.
—Danusia Wnek, Good Housekeeping, 16 Sep. 2022
To really reenergize and to lead with high positive energy, leaders must recognize and value the regenerate state.
—Andrew Deutscher, Forbes, 16 Aug. 2022
Overnight Detox Oil by Caudalie: Simply apply onto the face at bedtime to help stressed skin regenerate overnight thanks to the omega 6 and vitamin E.
—Felicity Carter, Forbes, 6 May 2021
Medical experts say adults require between seven and nine hours of sleep a night, during which the body repairs, regenerates, and recovers.
—oregonlive, 9 Apr. 2020
At Shinji’s pleading, the EVA powers back on and physically transforms; its arm regenerates, but the limb now looks human, like Shinji’s, and the EVA roars, runs on all fours like a beast, and rabidly tears its enemy apart.
—Maya Phillips, The New Yorker, 21 June 2019
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'regenerate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English regenerat, from Latin regeneratus, past participle of regenerare to regenerate, from re- + generare to beget — more at generate
First Known Use
Adjective
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
circa 1525, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Noun
1551, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of regenerate was
in the 15th century
Dictionary Entries Near regenerate
Cite this Entry
“Regenerate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/regenerate. Accessed 6 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
regenerate
1 of 2 adjective
re·gen·er·ate
ri-ˈjen-(ə-)rət
: spiritually reborn or renewed
regenerate
2 of 2 verb
re·gen·er·ate
ri-ˈjen-ə-ˌrāt
1
: to cause to be reborn spiritually
2
: to reform completely in ways of thinking and behaving
3
: to generate or produce again
especially
: to replace (a lost or damaged body part) by a new growth of tissue
4
: to give new life to : revive
land regenerated by rotation of crops
Medical Definition
regenerate
verb
re·gen·er·ate
ri-ˈjen-ə-ˌrāt
regenerated; regenerating
1
: to become formed again
2
: to undergo regeneration
the human bladder and liver can regenerate when injured
1
: to generate or produce anew
especially
: to replace (a body part) by a new growth of tissue
2
: to produce again chemically sometimes in a physically changed form
More from Merriam-Webster on regenerate
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share