rearm

[ree-ahrm]

verb (used with object)

1. to arm again.

2. to furnish with new or better weapons.

   As soon as the new rifle was in production, the troops were rearmed.

verb (used without object)

1. to become armed arm again.

rearm

/ riːˈɑːm /

verb

1. to arm again

2. (tr) to equip (an army, a nation, etc) with better weapons

Other Word Forms

• rearmament noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of rearm¹

First recorded in 1870–75; re- + arm ²

Example Sentences

Rheinmetall is now the world’s fastest-growing large defense company and a key player in Europe’s quest to rearm.

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In response, the European Union crafted a counterproposal more acceptable to Ukraine, and its member states are rushing to rearm as the bloc looks for ways to break its institutional gridlock.

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Hezbollah, a U.S.-designated terrorist group, is in desperate need of funds to rebuild and rearm its militia and pay other costs stemming from its bruising fight with Israel last year, the people said.

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New borrowing is planned especially to help overhaul the long-underfunded armed forces, as Germany rearms to face any Russian threat.

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Over the weekend, strikes killed five other people, with Israel accusing its Iran-backed foe Hezbollah of rearming.

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