rehabilitate

verb

re·​ha·​bil·​i·​tate ˌrē-ə-ˈbi-lə-ˌtāt  ˌrē-hə- 

rehabilitated; rehabilitating

transitive verb

1

a

: to restore to a former capacity : reinstate

b

: to restore to good repute : reestablish the good name of

2

a

: to restore to a former state (as of efficiency, good management, or solvency)

rehabilitate slum areas

b

: to restore or bring to a condition of health or useful and constructive activity

rehabilitative

ˌrē-ə-ˈbi-lə-ˌtā-tiv  ˌrē-hə- 

adjective

rehabilitator

ˌrē-ə-ˈbi-lə-ˌtā-tər  ˌrē-hə- 

noun

Synonyms

• habilitate
• reclaim
• redeem
• reform
• regenerate

Examples of rehabilitate in a Sentence

The clinic rehabilitates drug addicts.

He's still rehabilitating the knee he injured last summer.

They try to rehabilitate horses that have suffered injuries.

The program is intended to rehabilitate criminals.

The country has rehabilitated its image since the war.

The city plans to rehabilitate its slum areas.

Recent Examples on the Web

Yet Bongbong’s desire to rehabilitate the Marcos name has resulted in other shifts. —Charlie Campbell, TIME, 17 Apr. 2024

Players rehabilitating from injuries can do so there. —Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 2 Apr. 2024

Some audiences see Connie’s efforts to rehabilitate Tristan as a grim ending, whereas others look optimistically to their new life together. —Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 30 Mar. 2024

Having languished for decades in a sorry state of disrepair in Long Island settings, the glass and steel box prototype of a bold concept in affordable housing has been rehabilitated with shiny new aluminum sheet cladding. —John Oseid, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024

Ball was still being his jovial self, not long after the Hornets announced Thursday that he was officially done for the season to continue rehabilitating his right ankle, putting an end to the rampant speculation regarding his status during these final two weeks. —Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 28 Mar. 2024

Under the ruling, the dogs will not be returned to Adams and − if possible − will be rehabilitated and evaluated for possible adoption. —USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024

Federal and state wildlife agencies are beginning an effort to rescue and rehabilitate sawfish to find out why. —Maria Piñero, NBC News, 30 Mar. 2024

Carlsbad’s 148-unit Laurel Tree Apartments, an affordable housing complex built in 1999, has been approved for up to $45 million in tax-free bonds to refinance and rehabilitate the property. —Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin rehabilitatus, past participle of rehabilitare, from Latin re- + Late Latin habilitare to habilitate

First Known Use

circa 1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

rehabilitate

verb

re·​ha·​bil·​i·​tate ˌrē-(h)ə-ˈbil-ə-ˌtāt 

rehabilitated; rehabilitating

1

: to restore to a former status or reputation

2

a

: to restore to a state of efficiency, good management, or repair

rehabilitate slum areas

b

: to restore to a condition of health or useful and constructive activity

rehabilitate criminals

rehabilitation

-ˌbil-ə-ˈtā-shən 

noun

Medical Definition

rehabilitate

transitive verb

re·​ha·​bil·​i·​tate ˌrē-(h)ə-ˈbil-ə-ˌtāt 

rehabilitated; rehabilitating

: to restore or bring to a condition of health or useful and constructive activity

rehabilitate patients with hip fractures

Legal Definition

rehabilitate

transitive verb

re·​ha·​bil·​i·​tate ˌrē-ə-ˈbi-lə-ˌtāt, ˌrē-hə- 

rehabilitated; rehabilitating

1

: to restore to a former capacity

specifically : to restore credibility to (a witness or testimony)

the State simply brought out all of the prior statements to qualify or explain the inconsistency and to rehabilitate the witness

—People v. Page, 550 N.E.2d 248 (1990)

compare impeach

Note: A witness whose trial testimony is inconsistent with his or her pretrial usually sworn statements is considered impeached. Such a witness may be rehabilitated usually on redirect examination. There are various state and federal evidentiary rules governing what evidence (as character evidence) is admissible to rehabilitate a witness.

2

a

: to restore to a former state (as of good repair or solvency)

if the debtor wishes to liquidate rather than reorganize or rehabilitate the farming operation

—J. H. Williamson

b

: to restore (as a convicted criminal defendant) to a useful and constructive place in society through therapy, job training, and other counseling

rehabilitation

-ˌbi-lə-ˈtā-shən 

noun