rehabilitate

[ree-huh-bil-i-teyt, ree-uh-]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR rehabilitate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), re·ha·bil·i·tat·ed, re·ha·bil·i·tat·ing.

to restore to a condition of good health, ability to work, or the like.

to restore to good condition, operation, or management, as a bankrupt business.

to reestablish the good reputation of (a person, one's character or name, etc.).

to restore formally to former capacity, standing, rank, rights, or privileges.

verb (used without object), re·ha·bil·i·tat·ed, re·ha·bil·i·tat·ing.

to undergo rehabilitation.

Origin of rehabilitate

1570–80; < Medieval Latin rehabilitātus, past participle of rehabilitāre to restore. See re-, habilitate

Related formsre·ha·bil·i·ta·tion, nounre·ha·bil·i·ta·tive, adjectivere·ha·bil·i·ta·tor, nounnon·re·ha·bil·i·ta·tion, nounnon·re·ha·bil·i·ta·tive, adjectiveun·re·ha·bil·i·tat·ed, adjective

Synonyms for rehabilitate

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR rehabilitate ON THESAURUS.COM

2. salvage, restore, recondition, reconstruct, refurbish.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for rehabilitate

restore, rejuvenate, reinvigorate, rebuild, recover, refurbish, save, mend, reconstruct, reestablish, reclaim, improve, reintegrate, convert, reform, clear, redeem, renew, restitute, reinstate

Examples from the Web for rehabilitate

Contemporary Examples of rehabilitate

"I did all the work to get my fastball back, to rehabilitate my shoulder," he says.
Will the Real Jim Palmer Please Stand Up
Tom Boswell
September 27, 2014
To rehabilitate his battered public image, he needs to do more than take selfies on the steps of City Hall.
Can De Blasio Be Less Blah? The Mayor Who Needs a Makeover
Lloyd Grove
March 21, 2014
This is clearly a step by Zimmerman to rehabilitate his image so he can hopefully profit off his fame down the line.
George Zimmerman Wants to Profit Off Trayvon Martin’s Death
Dean Obeidallah
February 5, 2014
The only good news for Rubio is that his immigration gambit occurred early enough for him to rehabilitate and recover.
Six Events From 2013 That Will Affect the 2016 White House Race
David Catanese
December 18, 2013
Punishment should be enough to deter, to punish, and in the case of incorrigibles, to rehabilitate.
Some Things Are Beyond Punishment
Megan McArdle
June 25, 2013

Historical Examples of rehabilitate

They advised him to inform the Entente, in order to rehabilitate himself.
The Birth of Yugoslavia, Volume 1
Henry Baerlein
What I'm thinking about is how they're going to rehabilitate it.
The Galaxy Primes
Edward Elmer Smith
This lady was untiring in her efforts to reclaim and rehabilitate the fallen of her sex.
Monte-Cristo's Daughter
Edmund Flagg
My only chance to rehabilitate myself is to get the third set of plans to Berlin.
The Dark Star
Robert W. Chambers
And she had hoped somehow to rehabilitate herself in the eyes of the world.
Jennie Gerhardt
Theodore Dreiser

British Dictionary definitions for rehabilitate

rehabilitate

verb (tr)

to help (a person who has acquired a disability or addiction or who has just been released from prison) to readapt to society or a new job, as by vocational guidance, retraining, or therapy

to restore to a former position or rank

to restore the good reputation of

Derived Formsrehabilitative, adjective

Word Origin for rehabilitate

C16: from Medieval Latin rehabilitāre to restore, from re- + Latin habilitās skill, ability

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

Word Origin and History for rehabilitate

1570s, "to bring back to a former condition after decay or damage," back-formation from rehabilitation and in part from Medieval Latin rehabilitatus, past participle of rehabilitare. Meaning "to restore one's reputation or character in the eyes of others" is from 1847. Related: Rehabilitated; rehabilitating.

rehabilitate in Medicine

rehabilitate

[rē′hə-bĭl′ĭ-tāt′]

v.

To restore to good health or useful life, as through therapy and education.

To restore to good condition, operation, or capacity.

Related formsre′ha•bil′i•ta′tion n.re′ha•bil′i•ta′tive adj.