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Showing results for rearm. Search instead for rearmed.

rearm

American  
[ree-ahrm] / riˈɑrm /

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 again.

rearm British  
/ riːˈɑːm /

verb

  1. to arm again

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of rearm

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

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.

See Examples For:

Even before the Iran war cut into U.S. armament supplies, lawmakers and military brass worried that the U.S. can’t rearm itself fast enough to deter threats and respond to conflicts.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 15, 2026

German manufacturers are also said to be considering opening up or even selling plants to defence companies, which are expanding rapidly as Germany and other European countries rearm.

From Barron's Jun. 7, 2026

This is because the durable enforcement of a deal would require European peacekeeping forces, and both Russia and Ukraine would most likely seek to reconstitute their military capabilities and rearm in any case.

From MarketWatch May 13, 2026

"We must rearm to ensure peace on our continent," she said.

From BBC Feb. 26, 2026

When other nations failed to limit their own forces, Germany denounced the arms restrictions that had been imposed upon it and began to rearm in earnest.

From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman

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