resuscitate
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
Other Word Forms
- nonresuscitable adjective
- nonresuscitation noun
- nonresuscitative adjective
- resuscitable adjective
- resuscitation noun
- resuscitative adjective
- unresuscitable adjective
- unresuscitated adjective
- unresuscitating adjective
- unresuscitative adjective
Etymology
Origin of resuscitate
1525–35; < Latin resuscitātus (past participle of resuscitāre “to reawaken”), equivalent to re- re- + sus- sus- + cit(āre) “to move, arouse” ( cite 1 ) + -ātus -ate 1 ( def. )
Explanation
To resuscitate is to revive a person who has lost consciousness. In recent years it's become important for people to learn CPR so that they might resuscitate someone who loses consciousness, and many schools and hospitals offer classes in CPR. The Latin word suscitāre, "to raise," combines with re-, "again," to create the base of the verb resuscitate. Through the years, methods of resuscitation have advanced to the current sophisticated and effective levels of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, and defibrillation paddles that can shock a heart back to life. In fact, some patients nowadays ask to sign a "do not resuscitate" (DNR) order to allow them to die without medical interventions like resuscitation.
Vocabulary lists containing resuscitate
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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.
Even the departure of Enzo Maresca, who had consigned Sterling to the so-called "bomb squad" of unwanted Chelsea players, was unable to resuscitate the former Liverpool star's career at Stamford Bridge.
From Barron's • Jan. 28, 2026
Responders tried to resuscitate her with chest compressions and transferred her to a hospital, according to the report.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026
And for now, there are no hints of any efforts to resuscitate Venezuelan refining, he said.
From MarketWatch • Jan. 6, 2026
Nvidia’s results could help resuscitate the AI rally.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 20, 2025
Suddenly, the idea of trying to resuscitate Ekon the same way Mama had taught her to resuscitate a kondoo calf seemed more than a little foolish.
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
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.
