verb
C2
Proficient
resuscitate
rih-SUH-sih-tayt
Resuscitate (verb) means to bring someone back to consciousness or revive them from apparent death. Example: “Paramedics managed to resuscitate the patient at the scene.”
verb
1
To bring someone back to consciousness or revive them from apparent death.
"Paramedics managed to resuscitate the patient at the scene."
2
To bring something failing back to a healthy or working state.
"New investment helped resuscitate the struggling business."
How to use resuscitate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo revive someone or something from the brink of death or failure.
Common mistake
Not the same as "resurrect" — resuscitate is usually about medically reviving someone who is dying, not bringing back someone already dead.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
resuscitate a patient
attempt to resuscitate
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- resuscitates
- Past tense
- resuscitated
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Paramedics managed to _____ the patient at the scene.
Etymology
From Latin resuscitare, "to rouse again," from re- + sub- + citare ("to summon").
Synonyms
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revive
come to
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for resuscitate
See all rhymes for resuscitate →Frequently asked questions
What does “resuscitate” mean?
The word “resuscitate” means to bring someone back to consciousness or revive them from apparent death. In plain terms, to revive someone or something from the brink of death or failure.
How do you pronounce “resuscitate”?
“Resuscitate” is pronounced rih-SUH-sih-tayt (/ɹɪˈsʌsɪˌteɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “resuscitate” in a sentence?
Here is “resuscitate” used in a sentence: “Paramedics managed to resuscitate the patient at the scene.”
What part of speech is “resuscitate”?
“Resuscitate” is a verb.
Where does the word “resuscitate” come from?
The word “resuscitate” comes from Latin. From Latin resuscitare, "to rouse again," from re- + sub- + citare ("to summon").
How many meanings does “resuscitate” have?
“Resuscitate” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to bring someone back to consciousness or revive them from apparent death.
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