rehab
6 synonyms for rehab, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Treatment to help someone recover from drug or alcohol addiction, or an injury.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use rehab
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
go to rehab
rehab clinic
rehab a house
Informal; "rehabilitation" is the fuller, more formal word.
Etymology
A shortened form of rehabilitation.
Full origin of rehab →Frequently asked questions
What does “rehab” mean?
The word “rehab” means treatment to help someone recover from drug or alcohol addiction, or an injury. In plain terms, short for "rehabilitation" — treatment to recover from addiction, injury, or illness.
How do you pronounce “rehab”?
“Rehab” is pronounced REE-hab (/ˈɹiːhæb/ in IPA).
How do you use “rehab” in a sentence?
Here is “rehab” used in a sentence: “He spent three months in rehab after the accident.”
What part of speech is “rehab”?
Depending on how it is used, “rehab” can be a noun and a verb.
Is “rehab” a common word?
“Rehab” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “rehab” have?
“Rehab” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: treatment to help someone recover from drug or alcohol addiction, or an injury.
What is the difference between rehab and therapy?
Rehab specifically refers to treatment aimed at helping someone recover from addiction or an injury, often in a structured or residential program. Therapy is a broader term covering many kinds of treatment, including talk therapy, physical therapy, and counseling, which may or may not be part of a rehab program. Rehab can include therapy as one of its components.
Is rehab a formal or informal word?
Rehab is an informal shortening of "rehabilitation" and is common in everyday speech and casual writing. The full word "rehabilitation" is preferred in formal, medical, or legal contexts.
Can rehab be used as a verb as well as a noun?
Yes, rehab works as both a noun, meaning the treatment itself, and a verb, meaning to rehabilitate or help restore someone or something to a former condition. For example, "she went to rehab" uses the noun form, while "they rehabbed the old building" uses the verb form.
