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.”

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verb

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."

To restore a building, area, or system to good working condition.

"The old warehouse was rehabilitated into loft apartments."

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 notes

In 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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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

rehabilitated past tense, rehabilitates singular

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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."

Origin: Medieval Latin

Rhymes for rehabilitate

ate date rate mate fate abate slate plate state grate create update

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.