noun
Uncommon
rehab
REE-hab
Rehab (noun) means Treatment to help someone recover from drug or alcohol addiction, or an injury. Example: “He spent three months in rehab after the accident.”
noun
1
Treatment to help someone recover from drug or alcohol addiction, or an injury.
"He spent three months in rehab after the accident."
"Their uncle went into rehab and has been doing really well since."
"After the football injury, he needed several weeks of rehab before he could run again."
verb
1
To rehabilitate; to help restore someone or something to a former condition.
"She's rehabbing her knee after surgery."
"They plan to rehab the old barn and turn it into a workshop."
"The charity helps people rehab after long illnesses so they can return to normal life."
How to use rehab
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishShort for "rehabilitation" — treatment to recover from addiction, injury, or illness.
When to use it
Informal; "rehabilitation" is the fuller, more formal word.
Common pairings
go to rehab
rehab clinic
rehab a house
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like rehab.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- rehabs
- Third person singular
- rehabs
- Past tense
- rehabbed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He spent three months in _____ after the accident.
Etymology
A shortened form of rehabilitation.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
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.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include rehab:
