verb
rehabilitate
ree-uh-BIH-lih-tayt
Rehabilitate (verb) means to help someone return to good health, function, or a normal life after illness, injury, or addiction. Example: “The program helps rehabilitate injured athletes so they can return to sport.”
verb
1
To help someone return to good health, function, or a normal life after illness, injury, or addiction.
"The program helps rehabilitate injured athletes so they can return to sport."
2
To restore a building, area, or system to good working condition.
"The old warehouse was rehabilitated into loft apartments."
3
To restore someone's reputation or good standing.
"Historians have worked to rehabilitate the reputation of the disgraced general."
How to use rehabilitate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo help a person, building, or reputation get back to a good, working, or respected state.
Common pairings
rehabilitate an offender
rehabilitate a building
rehabilitate an image
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- rehabilitates
- Past tense
- rehabilitated
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The program helps _____ injured athletes so they can return to sport.
Etymology
A learned borrowing from Medieval Latin rehabilitātus, from rehabilitāre, "to restore to a former condition."
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for rehabilitate
See all rhymes for rehabilitate →Frequently asked questions
What does “rehabilitate” mean?
The word “rehabilitate” means to help someone return to good health, function, or a normal life after illness, injury, or addiction. In plain terms, to help a person, building, or reputation get back to a good, working, or respected state.
How do you pronounce “rehabilitate”?
“Rehabilitate” is pronounced ree-uh-BIH-lih-tayt (/ɹiː(h)əˈbɪlɪteɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “rehabilitate” in a sentence?
Here is “rehabilitate” used in a sentence: “The program helps rehabilitate injured athletes so they can return to sport.”
What part of speech is “rehabilitate”?
“Rehabilitate” is a verb.
Where does the word “rehabilitate” come from?
The word “rehabilitate” comes from Medieval Latin. A learned borrowing from Medieval Latin rehabilitātus, from rehabilitāre, "to restore to a former condition.".
How many meanings does “rehabilitate” have?
“Rehabilitate” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to help someone return to good health, function, or a normal life after illness, injury, or addiction.
