rewire

verb

re·​wire (ˌ)rē-ˈwī(-ə)r How to pronounce rewire (audio)
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 DeRiggiWhitton
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
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.
Just as skin can be toughened through manual labour, so the brain can be rewired to plough through difficulty. George Caulkin, New York Times, 21 May 2025 These micro-moments either reinforce or rewire the social norms of the group. Scott Hutcheson, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025 These jangly contradictions, presented as truths, are designed to rattle and rewire our brains; just think how easily a corrupt authoritarian leader could put them to use, and how readily a not-thinking public could fall right in line. Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 20 May 2025 The planned deal was the first outlined since Trump began his stutter-step efforts to rewire the global economy by dramatically increasing import taxes in an attempt to increase domestic manufacturing. Jill Lawless, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for rewire

Word History

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rewire was in 1881

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Cite this Entry

“Rewire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rewire. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

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