restitute

verb

res·​ti·​tute ˈre-stə-ˌtüt 

-ˌtyüt

restituted; restituting

transitive verb

1

: to restore to a former state or position

2

: give back

especially : refund

intransitive verb

: to undergo restitution

Examples of restitute in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The work was restituted in 2023 to the heirs of Albert Lewenstein and Hedwig Lewenstein-Weyermann, who had loaned it to the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam for safekeeping prior to fleeing the Netherlands ahead of the country’s Nazi occupation. — Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 2 Sep. 2026

The work was confiscated by the Nazis but restituted in 1948. — News Desk, Artforum, 19 Nov. 2025

In 2023 and 2024, for example, five museums restituted works to the heirs, including the Museum of Modern Art and the Carnegie Museum of Art. — Catherine Hickley, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025

Turkey, by the way, is among the world’s laggards in restituting anything. — Brian T. Allen, National Review, 5 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin restitutus, past participle of restituere

First Known Use

circa 1500, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for restitute

• absolute
• arrowroot
• attribute
• bitterroot
• constitute
• convolute
• destitute
• disrepute
• dissolute
• execute
• institute
• involute