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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 notes

In 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

Word forms

resuscitated past tense, resuscitates singular

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Paramedics managed to _____ the patient at the scene.

Etymology

From Latin resuscitare, "to rouse again," from re- + sub- + citare ("to summon").

Origin: Latin

revive come to

Related words

Rhymes for resuscitate

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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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