Synonyms

reconstitute

American

[ree-kon-sti-toot, -tyoot] / riˈkɒn stɪˌtut, -ˌtyut /

verb (used with object)

to constitute again; reconstruct; recompose.
to return (a dehydrated or concentrated food or other substance) to the liquid state by adding water.

to reconstitute a bouillon cube with hot water.

verb (used without object)

to undergo reconstitution; become reconstituted.

reconstitute British

/ riːˈkɒnstɪˌtjuːt, ˌriːkənˈstɪtjʊənt /

verb

to restore (food, etc) to its former or natural state or a semblance of it, as by the addition of water to a concentrate

reconstituted lemon juice
to reconstruct; form again

"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

Derived Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of reconstitute

First recorded in 1805–15; re- + constitute

Explanation

To reconstitute something is to rebuild it or change the way it's organized. After your club president moves away, you might reconstitute the group by putting the former treasurer in charge and inviting new members to join. You get reconstitute by adding re-, "again," to constitute, from a Latin word meaning "form something new" or "set in order." Taking the disassembled pieces of something and putting them back together is one way to reconstitute something. You might reconstitute a group of friends who spent an angry summer not speaking to each other, or reconstitute a bowl of dehydrated ramen noodles by adding boiling water, restoring them to their original, delicious state.

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Vocabulary lists containing reconstitute

Vocabulary from Readings 1, Unit 1

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Excerpt from "Speak"

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Boy 2.0

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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.

"This could add another layer of stress to the nation's ability to reconstitute the weapons," Khan said, noting that rare earths are used in "everything from drones and interceptors to F-35s and precision-guided missiles."

From Barron's • May 13, 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

Some American officials said they are concerned that Iran will use the break in fighting to reconstitute some of its missile arsenal.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

“They can reconstitute their nuclear program at a later date,” Kavanagh said.

From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026

“This,” Dr. Ramaswami said, “is an extinct flower. We have an impression of it, and we can’t reconstitute it, but we were able to figure out what it smells like.”

From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023