rewire

verb

re·​wire (ˌ)rē-ˈwī(-ə)r 

rewired; rewiring

transitive verb

1

: to provide or connect (something) with wire again

especially : to replace the electrical wiring of (something, such as a building or electronic device)

rewired the house

rewire a circuit board

2

: to make lasting and usually beneficial changes to the neurological or psychological functioning of (a person or brain)

—not used technically

The injured brain, moreover, can rewire itself.

—Joan Didion

Not only do studies show that meditation is boosting their immune system, but brain scans suggest that it may be rewiring their brains to reduce stress.

—Joel Stein

… nearly nine out of 10 adult smokers started smoking by age 18; nicotine can rewire youths' brains, making heroin and other opioids even more addictive.

—Delia DeRiggi-Whitton

Can you rewire yourself? I went back through pivotal points in my life, when one should be happy.

—Kim Korson

Examples of rewire in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Added to this, crews are finding ways to get around this unacceptable situation by ignoring alarms and even rewiring systems so the alarms never sound in the first place. —New Atlas, 24 Jan. 2026

These are foundational technologies that can unlock efficiency gains and gradually rewire financial infrastructure at both national and global levels. —Frank Sorrentino, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026

As the family grew, McVay decided to rewire his sleep schedule to make his coaching and home life more compatible. —Nate Atkins, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2026

Mercury conjunct Pluto delivers revelations that cut straight to the truth, rewiring your thinking entirely. —Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 19 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for rewire

• briar
• brier
• buyer
• choir
• crier
• cryer
• drier
• dryer
• eyer
• flier
• flyer
• friar