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
1
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."
2
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
1
The act of replacing wiring in something.
"The rewire took the electrician most of a week."
How to use rewire
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo redo the wiring of something, literally (electrics) or figuratively (habits, thinking).
Common pairings
rewire a house
rewire the brain
need a rewire
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Word forms
- Plural
- rewires
- Third person singular
- rewires
- Past tense
- rewired
Fill the gap
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
See all rhymes for rewire →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.
