resuscitation

noun

re·​sus·​ci·​ta·​tion ri-ˌsə-sə-ˈtā-shən 

ˌrē-

plural resuscitations

: an act or process of resuscitating someone or something:

a

medical : the act or an instance of reviving someone from apparent death or from unconsciousness

The EMS response times were generally fast in both groups, but successful prehospital resuscitations were not associated with significantly shorter response times than those reported in cases of refractory cardiac arrest.

—Arthur L. Kellermann et al.

… resuscitation techniques differ from other procedures in medicine in that they are usually performed only in critical situations, and thus the opportunities to learn and practice them are inherently limited.

—Jeffrey P. Burns et al.

see also cardiopulmonary resuscitation

b

: the act or an instance of restoring someone or something to an active or flourishing state

Punk may not be dead, but it certainly could use some resuscitation. And that's where Anthrax comes in.

—Craig Tomashoff

His resuscitation is evident in the 1982 reissue of his autobiography, "An Artist in America."

—Grace Glueck

Synonyms

• reanimation
• rebirth
• regeneration
• rejuvenation
• rejuvenescence
• renewal
• resurgence
• resurrection
• revitalization
• revival
• revivification

Examples of resuscitation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Arnold’s girlfriend started CPR, but the resuscitation lasted 90 minutes and required nine defibrillator shocks. —Theresa Tamkins, NBC News, 7 Oct. 2023

Hamlin lost his pulse on the field and needed to be revived through resuscitation and defibrillation. —Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN, 27 July 2023

The family told his doctors to end the resuscitation effort. —Maya Miller, ProPublica, 15 Nov. 2023

Anecdotal reports of rescuers using chest compressions appear at the same time tobacco enemas were being used, but physicians of the day did not understand which methods of resuscitation were truly working, and certainly not how. —Emily McCrary-Ruiz-Esparza, Discover Magazine, 9 Oct. 2023

The hospital said that video circulating on social media of staff apparently running into the street actually showed a resuscitation team on their way to the building where the teacher was shot. —Ahmad Seir and Aleksandar Furtula The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 1 Oct. 2023

Historically, Hamlin and James wouldn’t have survived a cardiac arrest at all, said Dr. Lance Becker, chair of emergency medicine and a resuscitation researcher at the Northwell Health System in Manhasset, New York. —Theresa Tamkins, NBC News, 14 Sep. 2023

Water birth centers are equipped with IVs, oxygen, medication, and infant resuscitation equipment, so if need be, emergency care can be started if transport to the hospital is needed. —Bekka Besich, Parents, 3 Sep. 2023

Yet these same physicians struggle to recommend against resuscitation, despite knowing that death is certain and near. —Sunita Puri, The New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2023

See More

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing resuscitation

• cardiopulmonary resuscitation
• mouth-to-mouth resuscitation

• cardiopulmonary resuscitation
• mouth-to-mouth resuscitation

Kids Definition

resuscitation

noun

re·​sus·​ci·​ta·​tion

ri-ˌsəs-ə-ˈtā-shən

: an act or procedure that attempts to resuscitate

also : the state of being resuscitated compare cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Medical Definition

resuscitation

noun

re·​sus·​ci·​ta·​tion ri-ˌsəs-ə-ˈtā-shən, rē- 

: an act of resuscitating or the state of being resuscitated

resuscitation by means of artificial respiration or cardiac massage

see cardiopulmonary resuscitation