reset

verb

re·​set (ˌ)rē-ˈset How to pronounce reset (audio)
reset; resetting

transitive verb

1
: to set again or anew
reset type
reset a diamond
reset a circuit breaker
2
: to change the reading of often to zero
reset an odometer
reset noun
resettable adjective

Examples of reset in a Sentence

The machine reset the bowling pins. His broken leg had to be reset. reset the timer to 10 minutes The fire alarm was reset.
Recent Examples on the Web Swipe to and tap Reset, then Factory data reset > Reset. Fox News, 14 Nov. 2023 One exclusion in Maine’s law lets carmakers offer a secure portal where owners and independent mechanics can look up how to reset a car’s security features rather than publicizing that information. Wes Davis, The Verge, 9 Nov. 2023 Teams will reach the bonus when their opponent commits five fouls in each quarter and team fouls will reset at the end of each quarter. Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2023 If a reservation made using a JetBlue travel credit is canceled, the credit expiration date will not reset. Katie Seemann, Travel + Leisure, 1 Nov. 2023 That's enough for a lot of calculations but still means the system as a whole needs to be reset regularly. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 24 Oct. 2023 Starting over under a new name resets the salary structure(*). Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 20 Oct. 2023 The job in New Delhi — where a right-wing, Hindu nationalist government has stoked anti-Muslim violence and challenged India’s secular and democratic identity — offered Garcetti a path to recovery, a chance to reset his narrative. Courtney Subramanian, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2023 Most ARMs reset rates every six months or every year, but there are other options that adjust rates every two or three years. Tanza Loudenback, wsj.com, 30 Oct. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reset.' 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

1628, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of reset was in 1628

Dictionary Entries Near reset

Cite this Entry

“Reset.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reset. Accessed 2 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

reset

verb
re·​set rē-ˈset How to pronounce reset (audio)
reset; resetting
1
: to set again or anew
reset a diamond in a new setting
2
: to change the reading of often to zero
reset a stopwatch
reset
ˈrē-ˌset
noun
resettable adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on reset

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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