reset

American  

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

verb (used with object)

reset, resetting

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.

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verb (used without object)

reset, resetting

1. to become set again.

   The alarm bell resets automatically.

noun

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

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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

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noun

1. the receiving of stolen goods

Other Word Forms

• resettable
  adjective
• resetter
  noun

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

This includes a hair salon and museum in Joshua Tree, and the recently opened Reset Hotel in Twentynine Palms features dozens of rooms in retrofitted shipping containers, some with outdoor bathtubs and firepits.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

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

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