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
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.
After Leicester’s two relegations from the Premier League in that time, the 43-year-old has stepped into a club trying to reset and rebuild, with a disconnect between the players on the pitch and the fans in the stands. Rob Tanner, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025 This cataclysmic event would have melted and thoroughly mixed the entire planet, thereby resetting its chemical composition. Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2025 But after falling short against the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League Division Series, any feelings of relief will be turning to pressure to reset the roster and refocus on championship aspirations. Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025 Blazy likes to remove himself from the studio for a few minutes between sessions, to allow the space to be reset and to give his design colleagues a chance to prepare, confer, or kvetch without him present. Nathan Heller, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for reset

Word History

First Known Use

1628, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of reset was in 1628

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Reset.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reset. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.

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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