rejuvenate

verb re·ju·ve·nate \ ri-ˈjü-və-ˌnāt \

Updated on: 11 Apr 2018

Definition of rejuvenate

rejuvenated; rejuvenating

transitive verb

1 a : to make young or youthful again : give new vigor to

b : to restore to an original or new state

rejuvenate old cars

2 a : to stimulate (a stream) to renewed erosive activity especially by uplift

b : to develop youthful features of topography in

intransitive verb

: to cause or undergo rejuvenescence

—

rejuvenation

play \ri-ˌjü-və-ˈnā-shən, ˌrē-\ noun

—

rejuvenator

play \ri-ˈjü-və-ˌnā-tər\ noun

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Examples of rejuvenate in a Sentence

The spa treatment rejuvenated me.
Each candidate claims to have a plan to rejuvenate the sagging economy.
Her efforts to rejuvenate her career have so far been unsuccessful.

Recent Examples of rejuvenate from the Web

For Christians, Orbán's revival of a religious identity in Hungary ought to be rejuvenating.

— sara miller llana, The Christian Science Monitor, "As Hungary votes, memories of a mythical past loom large," 6 Apr. 2018
The appointment highlights how the luxury industry has moved to rejuvenate decades-old brands with streetwear inflections, such as sneakers, track pants, synthetic fabrics and T-shirts.

— matthew dalton, WSJ, "Louis Vuitton Appoints Virgil Abloh as New Creative Director," 26 Mar. 2018
Cast in his father’s image and tempered by experience, Dan Hurley is armed to rejuvenate UConn.

— dom amore, courant.com, "Dan Hurley's Name, UConn's Brand, Form A Powerful Bond," 25 Mar. 2018
Keep them in rotation year round or use them once or twice a week for a rejuvenating boost—and watch skin transform.

— jenna rennert, Vogue, "9 Supercharged Retinol Creams to Transform Your Skin," 6 Mar. 2018
But all those life-changing meals, rejuvenating hotel stays, and outdoor adventures can add up to a painful hit to the wallet.

— sebastian modak, Condé Nast Traveler, "7 Places Where the U.S. Dollar Is Really Strong Right Now," 2 Feb. 2018
McDaniels, or any offensive coach who has shown a willingness to adapt their scheme to the quarterback, would rejuvenate Mariota’s career.

— steven ruiz, For The Win, "The Titans saved Marcus Mariota's career by parting ways with Mike Mularkey," 15 Jan. 2018
After him, the party elders all felt that a younger, more dynamic leader was needed to rejuvenate the Soviet system and ensure its survival.

— The Economist, "A new generation is rising in Russia," 22 Mar. 2018
Missouri State athletic director Kyle Moats said, during the press conference where Lusk was fired, that hiring someone who would rejuvenate the fan base and bring attendance up was important.

— alec mcchesney, kansascity, "Missouri State picks Dana Ford as next men's basketball coach | The Kansas City Star," 21 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rejuvenate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

Juvenis, Latin for "young", can be seen in a word such as juvenile. Rejuvenation is something that can be carried out on a creaky old house, a clunker of a car, a sluggish career, a weak economy, or a company that's lost its edge, but rejuvenate and rejuvenation are probably used most often for talking about our physical selves. Ads for lotions promise skin rejuvenation; diet-book covers show rejuvenated (or maybe just young) models bursting with health. We still seem to be searching for that "Fuente de la Juventud" that Juan Ponce de León failed to discover five hundred years ago.

Origin and Etymology of rejuvenate

re- + Latin juvenis young — more at young

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1742

See Words from the same year

rejuvenate Synonyms

Synonyms

freshen, recharge, recreate, refresh, refreshen, regenerate, renew, repair, restore, resuscitate, revitalize, revive;

refill, replenish, resupply;

modernize, update;

Synonym Discussion of rejuvenate

renew, restore, refresh, renovate, rejuvenate mean to make like new. renew implies a restoration of what had become faded or disintegrated so that it seems like new.