reset

verb

re·​set (ˌ)rē-ˈset 

reset; resetting

transitive verb

1

: to set again or anew: such as

a

: to put back into an original place or position

The machine reset the bowling pins.

They reset the diamond in my ring.

I reset the trap.

b

: to put (a bone) back in the correct position for healing

2

: to change the reading of

reset his watch

reset the odometer to zero

reset

ˈrē-ˌset 

noun

resettable

(ˌ)rē-ˈse-tə-bəl 

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

After Monday's big win, the Megabucks jackpot resets to $500,000 for the next drawing. — Neal Riley, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026

In an ideal world the Miami Dolphins would field a winning football team, one which resets the team’s finances and finds a dozen foundational pieces for the future. — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2026

Daniels will be eligible for an extension next season and will likely reset the market. — Ted Nguyen, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026

But then the season ended, and then there were midterms, and then the semester came to a close, resetting the discourse until the next football column appears. — Jesse Dougherty, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1628, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for reset

• abet
• asset
• baguette
• banquette
• barbette
• beget
• beset
• binet
• briquette
• brunet
• brunette
• burette

Kids Definition

reset

verb

re·​set rē-ˈset 

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

-ˈset-ə-bəl 

adjective