resurrect
Americanverb (used with object)
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to raise from the dead; bring to life again.
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to bring back into use, practice, etc..
to resurrect an ancient custom.
verb (used without object)
verb
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to rise or raise from the dead; bring or be brought back to life
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(tr) to bring back into use or activity; revive
to resurrect an ancient law
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(tr) to renew (one's hopes, etc)
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facetious (tr) (formerly) to exhume and steal (a body) from its grave, esp in order to sell it
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of resurrect
First recorded in 1765–75; back formation from resurrection
Explanation
To resurrect is to bring someone back from the dead. You can also resurrect things that are inactive or out of use. If you've ever seen someone bring a dead person back to life in a science fiction or fantasy movie, you saw them resurrect someone. Turning someone into a zombie or vampire is a type of resurrecting, and in the Bible Jesus resurrects Lazurus. Also, this word can apply to any kind of revival. A song can resurrect faded memories. A forgotten project can be resurrected if you start it up again. Resurrecting always involves bringing something back to life.
Vocabulary lists containing resurrect
This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for September 11–September 17, 2021
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The Roman and Byzantine Empires, Lessons 1–2
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Free Lunch
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
At one panel, aggressively titled “Will Data and Digital Resurrect TV?,” even Oprah favorite Dr. Oz got in on the action.
From The Verge • Oct. 3, 2017
The tiles, lettered in a rambling freehand style, read "Toynbee Idea / In Kubrick's 2001 / Resurrect Dead / On Planet Jupiter."
From Seattle Times • Dec. 15, 2011
"Resurrect Dead: The Mystery of the Toynbee Tiles": Documentarian John Foy attempts to understand the many cryptic plaques embedded in street asphalt around the country in this Sundance award-winning film.
From Seattle Times • Nov. 23, 2011
Other top prizes went to John Foy, director of documentary "Resurrect Dead: The Mystery of the Toynbee Tiles," and to Sean Durkin for directing drama "Martha Marcy May Marlene."
From Reuters • Jan. 30, 2011
"If we need Einstein, why don't we Resurrect him, deal with him as a man?"
From The Big Time by Leiber, Fritz
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
