reset

American  

[ree-set, ree-set] / riˈsɛt, ˈriˌsɛt /

verb (used with object)

resets, present (3rd person singular) reset, past participle, past resetting present participle

1. to set again.

   to reset an alarm clock; to reset a broken bone.

2. to set, adjust, or fix in a new or different way.

   to reset priorities; to reset prices.

3. to illegally set back the odometer on (an auto or other vehicle) to a lower reading.

   a used-car dealer charged with resetting his cars.

---

verb (used without object)

resets, present (3rd person singular) reset, past participle, past resetting present participle

1. to become set again.

   The alarm bell resets automatically.

noun

resets plural

1. an act or instance of setting again.

2. an act or instance of setting, adjusting, or fixing something in a new or different way.

   A reset of relations between the two countries may be impossible. Company executives recognized the need for a reset in their business.

3. something that is set again.

4. a plant that is replanted.

5. a device used in resetting an instrument or control mechanism.

reset ¹ British  

verb

1. to set again (a broken bone, matter in type, a gemstone, etc)

2. to restore (a gauge, dial, etc) to zero

3. Also: clear.  to restore (the contents of a register or similar device) in a computer system to zero

---

noun

1. the act or an instance of setting again

2. a thing that is set again

3. a plant that has been recently transplanted

4. a device for resetting instruments, controls, etc

reset ² British  

verb

1. to receive or handle goods knowing they have been stolen

---

noun

1. the receiving of stolen goods

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• resetter
  noun
• resettable
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• resets
  plural

Participles

• resetting
  present
• reset
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• reset
  simple
• resets
  simple
• have reset
  perfect
• has reset
  perfect
• am resetting
  progressive
• are resetting
  progressive
• is resetting
  progressive
• have been resetting
  perfect progressive
• has been resetting
  perfect progressive

Past

• reset
  simple
• had reset
  perfect
• was resetting
  progressive
• were resetting
  progressive
• had been resetting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will reset
  simple
• will have reset
  perfect
• will be resetting
  progressive
• will have been resetting
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of reset

First recorded in 1645–55; re- + set

Explanation

When you reset something, you start it over again or adjust it. If you accidentally set your alarm to go off at 3:00 am, you'll have to sleepily reset it for 7:00 am. You may like to reset your car's odometer before starting a long trip, so you can keep track of your gas mileage. Or, you might tend to reset your alarm clock on the weekends, so it wakes you later. You can also reset many electronics by essentially making them go back to zero, or to a starting point: "I need to reset my cellphone to the original factory settings."

Example Sentences

Appeared in the March 24, 2026, print edition as 'A Nimble Reset'.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

Economists at real estate information firm Redfin said that 2026 could begin what it calls the Great Housing Reset, an era of gradual increases in home sales and price normalization.

From Barron's • Dec. 15, 2025

“Instead, the Great Housing Reset will be a yearslong period of gradual increases in home sales and normalization of prices as affordability gradually improves.”

From MarketWatch • Dec. 15, 2025

Modern, minimal and modular, Reset Hotel is the first new hotel to be built from the ground up in the Joshua Tree area in 15 years.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 18, 2025

I shoved it into the Atari and turned the system on, then hit the Reset switch to start the game.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline

Related Words

• readjust
• reconstruct
• reorganize
• reposition
• reshuffle
• revamp
• rework