English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com

English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

Look up the definition and meaning of any English word. Every entry includes pronunciation, example sentences, synonyms, word origin and translations. Browse the dictionary A–Z or search for a word.

Browse the dictionary by letter

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

“R” Words

regeneration
noun
The regrowth of damaged or lost living tissue.
regenerative
adj
Relating to or capable of regeneration; able to regrow or renew.
regent
noun
A person who rules in place of a monarch, often because the monarch is too young, absent, or unable to rule.
regental
adj
Relating to a regent.
regentship
noun
The position held by a regent.
regex
noun
A short line of symbols that describes a pattern of text, used to find, check or replace pieces of writing that match that pattern; short for regular expression.
reggae
noun
A music genre from Jamaica known for its offbeat rhythm guitar and deep bass, closely tied to Rastafarian culture.
Reggie
name
A common nickname for the given name Reginald or Regina.
regicide
noun
The killing of a king or reigning monarch.
regime
noun
A government in power, especially one seen as authoritarian.
regimen
noun
A structured plan of diet, exercise, or treatment followed regularly for health benefits.
regiment
noun
A military unit made up of several smaller units, commanded by an officer.
regimental
adj
Relating to a military regiment.
regiminal
adj
Relating to a regimen.
Regina
name
A feminine given name from Latin meaning "queen"; also the capital city of Saskatchewan, Canada.
Reginald
name
A masculine given name of Germanic origin, derived from a Latinized form of Reynold, meaning roughly "counsel power."
region
noun
A large area of land or space treated as a unit because of its geography, its climate, its culture or the way it is governed.
regional
adj
Relating to a particular area or district rather than the whole country.
regionalism
noun
A strong, sometimes excessive, attachment to one's own region.
regions
noun
Areas outside a country's capital or main city, especially when contrasted with it.
Regis
name
A masculine given name and surname.
register
verb
To add a name, item, or event to an official list or record.
registered
adj
Officially entered on a list or record.
registrar
noun
An official who keeps formal records, such as a university's enrollment and grades, or a court's case files.
registration
noun
The act of putting a name, fact or item onto an official list or record.
registry
noun
An official record or list, or the office that keeps it.
regnant
adj
Currently ruling or in power.
regorge
verb
To bring food back up from the stomach; to vomit.
regrade
verb
To give something a new grade or mark.
regress
verb
To move backward to an earlier, less developed stage.
regression
noun
A return to an earlier, usually less developed or less desirable, state.
regressive
adj
Tending to go backwards or return to an earlier state.
regret
verb
To feel sorry about something that happened, or wish it had gone differently.
regretful
adj
Feeling or showing regret.
regretfully
adv
In a way that shows regret.
regrettable
adj
Deserving to be regretted; unfortunate.
regrettably
adv
In a way that is unfortunate and deserves regret.
regretting
noun
The act of feeling sorry about something you did or failed to do.
regroup
verb
To gather again into an organized group, especially after a setback.
regrowth
noun
New growth that appears after something has been cut or removed.
regs
noun
Informal short form of "regulations," the official rules governing a system, organization, or activity.
regular
adj
Happening at consistent, predictable intervals.
regularity
noun
The quality of following a consistent pattern or schedule.
regularly
adv
At consistent intervals; often and predictably.
regulate
verb
To control something using rules, especially to make sure it works properly or fairly.
regulated
adj
Controlled by official rules.
regulation
noun
An official rule issued by an authority to control how something is done.
regulative
adj
Relating to rules, or acting to control something.
regulator
noun
A device that manages or restricts something.
regulatory
adj
Relating to official rules or the bodies that enforce them.
regurgitate
verb
To bring swallowed food back up out of the mouth.
regurgitation
noun
The act of bringing swallowed food back up.
rehab
noun
Treatment to help someone recover from drug or alcohol addiction, or an injury.
rehabilitate
verb
To help someone return to good health, function, or a normal life after illness, injury, or addiction.
rehabilitation
noun
The process of helping someone or something return to a good or normal condition.
rehash
verb
To go over old material again with little or no new content.
rehearsal
noun
A practice session for a performance, to prepare before it happens in front of an audience.
rehearse
verb
To practise a performance, speech, or scene in preparation for the real thing.
rehearsed
adj
Practised and prepared in advance, sometimes to the point of sounding artificial.
rehearsing
noun
The act of practising a performance, speech, or routine ahead of time.
reheat
verb
To heat food or a substance again after it has cooled.
rehman
name
A surname, an alternative form of Rahman.
rei
noun
A unit of old Portuguese currency, used before the escudo; plural was "réis."
Reich
noun
A German empire, kingdom, or state, especially Nazi Germany (the Third Reich).
Reichstag
noun
The building in Berlin that has housed the German parliament, and historically the lower house of Germany's parliament itself.
Reid
name
A Scottish, English, and Irish surname and given name, most commonly derived from a byname meaning "red," referring to hair or complexion.
reify
verb
To treat an idea or quality as though it were a real, physical thing.
reign
noun
The period of time during which a monarch rules.
reigning
adj
Currently holding a title, ruling, or dominant position.
Reiko
name
A feminine given name of Japanese origin.
Reilly
name
An Irish surname and modern unisex given name, meaning "descendants of Raghallach."
reimagining
noun
A new version of a dramatic work.
reimburse
verb
To pay someone back for money they spent or a loss they suffered.
reimbursement
noun
Money paid back to someone to cover an expense they already paid.
Reims
name
A city in the Champagne region of northeastern France, historically the site of French royal coronations.
rein
noun
A strap attached to a bridle, used to control and guide a horse.
reincarnate
verb
To be reborn in a new body after death, or to cause this to happen.
reincarnated
adj
Reborn in a new body after death.
reincarnation
noun
The rebirth of a soul into a new body after death.
reindeer
noun
A large deer of Arctic and subarctic regions, known for its antlers and its role pulling sleighs.
Reiner
name
A masculine given name and surname of German origin, a doublet of Rayner.
reinforce
verb
To make something stronger by adding extra support or material.
reinforced
adj
Made stronger with extra material or support.
reinforcement
noun
The act of making something stronger, or the material used to strengthen it.
reinforcer
noun
Something that makes a behaviour more likely to happen again.
reinforcing
adj
Used to make something stronger.
Reinhardt
name
A German and Jewish surname, ultimately meaning "strong counsel."
reinless
adj
Without reins, or not controlled by them.
reins
noun
The straps used to steer and control a horse (plural of rein).
reinstate
verb
To restore someone or something to a former position or condition.
reinstatement
noun
The act of restoring someone or something to a former position or condition.
reintegration
noun
The act or process by which something is reintegrated.
reintroduce
verb
To bring something back into use, or to present something again.
reinvent
verb
To change something so much that it feels completely new.
reinvigorate
verb
To make someone or something feel fresh, strong and full of energy again.
reis
noun
A military title in the Ottoman navy roughly equivalent to a ship's captain.
reiterate
verb
To say something again, usually for emphasis or clarity.
reiteration
noun
An instance of saying or doing something again.
reject
verb
To refuse to accept, believe, or agree to something.
rejecting
noun
The act of refusing to accept, believe, or agree to something.
rejection
noun
The act of refusing or turning down something or someone.
rejoice
verb
To feel or show great joy or delight.
rejoiced
adj
Full of joy; delighted.
rejoicing
noun
An expression or occasion of great happiness.
rejoin
verb
To join again with a group after being separated from it.
rejoinder
noun
(law) A defendant's reply to the claimant's answer in a legal case.
rejoint
verb
To join something's parts back together.
rejuvenate
verb
To make someone or something feel young, fresh, or energetic again.
rejuvenated
adj
Made to feel young, fresh, or full of energy again.
rejuvenating
adj
Making someone feel young, fresh and full of energy again.
rejuvenation
noun
The process of restoring youth, freshness, or energy.
Rekha
name
A feminine given name of Sanskrit origin, used in India, meaning "line."
rekindle
verb
To bring a feeling, interest, or relationship back to life.
relapse
verb
To fall back into a former, usually worse, state after a period of improvement.
relatable
adj
Easy to understand or identify with on a personal level.
relate
verb
To tell or describe an event or story.
related
adj
Connected in some way to something else.
relating
noun
The act of connecting things, or of identifying with someone.
relation
noun
The way in which two or more things are connected or associated with each other.
relationship
noun
The way two or more people or things are connected, or the connection itself.
relative
adjective
Considered in comparison with something else, rather than in absolute terms.
relatively
adverb
Fairly or somewhat, when judged against a typical standard.
relativity
noun
Relativity is the physics theory, developed by Albert Einstein, describing how the laws of physics and the nature of space, time and gravity depend on the observer's motion.
relaunch
verb
To launch or introduce something again, usually with changes or improvements.
relax
verb
To rest and become free of tension, stress, or worry.
relaxation
noun
A state of rest and reduced tension, or an activity that produces it.
relaxed
adjective
Free from tension or anxiety; calm and at ease.
relaxing
adjective
Helping someone feel calm and free of stress.
relay
verb
To pass on information received from one person or source to another.
relaying
noun
An instance of passing something, such as information or a signal, from one point to another.
release
verb
To set free or allow to leave, especially from captivity or confinement.
releasing
noun
The act of setting something free or making it available.
relegate
verb
To banish, exile, or otherwise force away.
relent
verb
To finally agree to something after initially refusing, or to become less harsh.
relenting
noun
An act by which someone relents.
relentless
adjective
Continuing without pause or weakening; unyielding.
relentlessly
adverb
In a way that continues without pause or weakening.
relevance
noun
The quality of being closely connected or applicable to the matter at hand.
relevant
adjective
Closely connected to or important for the subject being discussed.
reliability
noun
The quality of being consistently good, trustworthy, or dependable.
reliable
adjective
Consistently good in quality or performance; able to be trusted.
reliably
adverb
In a way that can be trusted or counted on consistently.
reliance
noun
Dependence on or trust in someone or something.
reliant
adjective
Dependent on someone or something for support or supply.
relic
noun
An object that has survived from an earlier time, often valued for its age or history.
relict
noun
A person or thing that remains after others have been lost.
relief
noun
A feeling of ease or reassurance after the removal of stress, pain, or worry.
relieve
verb
To ease or reduce pain, distress, or worry.
relieved
adjective
Feeling reassured or free from anxiety after a worry has passed.
reliever
noun
A thing that eases something, such as pain.