verb

rewire

ree-WEYE-uh

Rewire (verb) means to replace or reconnect the electrical wiring in a building or device. Example: “The whole house needed to be rewired before it was safe to live in.”

verb

To replace or reconnect the electrical wiring in a building or device.

"The whole house needed to be rewired before it was safe to live in."

To change how something works at a deeper level, as if altering its internal wiring.

"Years of therapy helped rewire how he responded to stress."

noun

The act of replacing wiring in something.

"The rewire took the electrician most of a week."

How to use rewire

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo redo the wiring of something, literally (electrics) or figuratively (habits, thinking).

Common pairings

rewire a house rewire the brain need a rewire

Word forms

rewired past tense, rewires plural, rewires singular

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Can you complete this real example?

The whole house needed to be _____ before it was safe to live in.

Etymology

From re- ("again") plus wire.

Rhymes for rewire

ire fire wire tire lire dire hire mire sire afire Zaire spire

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Frequently asked questions

What does “rewire” mean?

The word “rewire” means to replace or reconnect the electrical wiring in a building or device. In plain terms, to redo the wiring of something, literally (electrics) or figuratively (habits, thinking).

How do you pronounce “rewire”?

“Rewire” is pronounced ree-WEYE-uh (/ɹiːˈwaɪə(ɹ)/ in IPA).

How do you use “rewire” in a sentence?

Here is “rewire” used in a sentence: “The whole house needed to be rewired before it was safe to live in.”

What part of speech is “rewire”?

Depending on how it is used, “rewire” can be a verb and a noun.

How many meanings does “rewire” have?

“Rewire” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to replace or reconnect the electrical wiring in a building or device.