regenerate

American  

[ri-jen-uh-rayt, ri-jen-er-it] / rɪˈdʒɛn əˌreɪt, rɪˈdʒɛn ər ɪt /

verb (used with object)

• regenerates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• regenerated,
  past participle,  past
• regenerating
  present participle

1. to effect a complete moral reform in.

   Synonyms:

   uplift, redeem, reform

2. to re-create, reconstitute, or make over, especially in a better form or condition.

3. to revive or produce anew; bring into existence again.

4. Biology. to renew or restore (a lost, removed, or injured part).

5. Physics. to restore (a substance) to a favorable state or physical condition.

6. Electronics. to magnify the amplification of, by relaying part of the output circuit power into the input circuit.

7. Theology. to cause to be born again spiritually.

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verb (used without object)

• regenerates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• regenerated,
  past participle,  past
• regenerating
  present participle

1. to come into existence or be formed again.

2. to reform; become regenerate.

3. to produce a regenerative effect.

4. to undergo regeneration.

adjective

1. reconstituted or made over in a better form.

2. reformed.

3. Theology. born again spiritually.

regenerate British  

verb

1. to undergo or cause to undergo moral, spiritual, or physical renewal or invigoration

2. to form or be formed again; come or bring into existence once again

3. to replace (lost or damaged tissues or organs) by new growth, or to cause (such tissues) to be replaced

4. chem to restore or be restored to an original physical or chemical state

5. (tr) electronics (in a digital system) to reshape (distorted incoming pulses) for onward transmission

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adjective

1. morally, spiritually, or physically renewed or reborn; restored or refreshed

Usage

What does regenerate mean? Regenerate means to renew or restore something, especially after it has been damaged or lost. The act or process of regenerating is regeneration. Both terms are commonly used in the context of biology to refer to the regrowth of part of an organism or environment. In this sense, a close synonym is regrow. In animals, tissue, organs, or other body parts that have been injured or lost are sometimes regenerated. In some animals, regeneration happens on an even greater scale, with some being able to regrow an entire limb or tail. Environments that have been damaged or destroyed, like forests or grasslands damaged by fire, can also regenerate. Regenerate can also be used in other specific ways. In the context of religion, regenerate can mean to be spiritually reborn. In chemistry, to regenerate is to restore or be restored to an original physical or chemical state. In audio electronics, regenerate means to increase amplification through a kind of feedback process. Much less commonly, regenerate can be used as an adjective meaning restored, renewed, reborn, or morally reformed. Example: It is hoped that the experimental treatment will reduce healing time by helping tissue to regenerate more quickly.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• regeneracy
  noun
• regenerateness
  noun
• regenerator
  noun
• nonregenerate
  adjective
• nonregenerating
  adjective
• regenerable
  adjective
• regenerative
  adjective
• unregenerable
  adjective
• unregenerating
  adjective
• regeneratively
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• regenerating
  present
• regenerated
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• regenerate
  simple
• regenerates
  simple
• have regenerated
  perfect
• has regenerated
  perfect
• am regenerating
  progressive
• are regenerating
  progressive
• is regenerating
  progressive
• have been regenerating
  perfect progressive
• has been regenerating
  perfect progressive

Past

• regenerated
  simple
• had regenerated
  perfect
• was regenerating
  progressive
• were regenerating
  progressive
• had been regenerating
  perfect progressive

Future

• will regenerate
  simple
• will have regenerated
  perfect
• will be regenerating
  progressive
• will have been regenerating
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of regenerate

1425–75; late Middle English (adj.) < Latin regenerātus, past participle of regenerāre to bring forth again, equivalent to re- re- + generātus; see generate

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Explanation

Starfish are famous for their ability to regenerate, or regrow, a lost arm. Anything that revives in this magical way can be said to regenerate. While the verb regenerate can literally mean "produce anew," it can also describe what happens when something is fixed up, made "like new." An argument that's often made for bringing a new company, sports complex, casino, or other enterprise to a depressed area is that it will regenerate the town economically, bringing it back to life. In Latin, regeneratio means "being born again."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

regenerate regenerates regenerated regenerating

Disruptions involving DEAF1 may further impair the body's ability to regenerate healthy muscle.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026

She said: "It's incredibly encouraging to see how quickly this important habitat can regenerate when given the opportunity."

From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026

The image is at once hokey and compelling, suggesting in unwieldy terms that the monster Hansen has been chasing is like a Hydra: cut off its head, and it’ll regenerate with two more.

From Salon ● Sep. 26, 2026

The good news is that researchers are developing therapies that do what was once thought impossible: regenerate cartilage, boost the knee’s natural ability to heal, and prevent cartilage breakdown in the first place.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 13, 2026

Next season the cane will regenerate, a vegetal mystery, and she will return to cut it again.

From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García

At the end of this evening's series finale, Gatwa regenerates into Billie Piper, who previously played the Doctor's companion, Rose Tyler.

From BBC ● May 31, 2025

The previously-tried approach relies on a reversible metal-CO2 reaction that regenerates carbon dioxide, continuing to contribute greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.

From Science Daily ● May 15, 2024

Bamboo grows faster than eucalyptus and regenerates like a weed.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 23, 2024

When I ask about jararanko, he says “the lizard has a healing property that is astringent—it absorbs bruises and regenerates fractures or fissures.”

From National Geographic ● Oct. 26, 2023

Japan’s high rainfall also ensures that its forest regenerates quickly after logging.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

Panettiere gave a likeably sparky performance as Claire, a cheerleader who regenerated if she was physically harmed, and who was at the heart of the show's "save the cheerleader, save the world" premise.

From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026

Additional testing showed the regenerated tissue was hyaline cartilage, the type needed for healthy joint function, rather than the less effective fibrocartilage.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 12, 2026

It would allow us to overwhelm our adversaries with large, affordable salvos of weapons that can be built and regenerated quickly.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 24, 2026

Additional tests confirmed that the regenerated tissue was hyaline cartilage rather than the less functional fibrocartilage.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 20, 2026

My father was happy and full of life, regenerated by talk of the coming summer and moving to California.

From "Bless Me, Ultima" by Rudolfo Anaya

In one video I found, Cramer, a serious-looking man in his 40s, discussed “holographic regenerating medical beds” back in 2015.

From Slate ● Sep. 22, 2026

These trees "need natural disturbances such as fires," according to the government department Environment Canada, but suffer from repeated, intense fires that prevent them from regenerating.

From Barron's ● Jul. 20, 2026

And instead of a knee or hip replacement, you could get new bone and joint treatments designed to reverse physical decline entirely by regenerating tissue in damaged joints.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 14, 2026

This was as a result of feral goats who ate every tree seedling which then prevented the forest from regenerating.

From BBC ● May 25, 2026

The presence of telomerase meant cells could keep regenerating their telomeres indefinitely.

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot

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Related Words

• invigorate
• reconstruct
• recreate
• reestablish
• reinvigorate
• rejuvenate
• reproduce

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