rehire

American  

[ree-hahyuhr] / ˌriˈhaɪər /

verb (used with object)

1. to engage the services of (someone) for wages or other payment a second or subsequent time (often used in the passive).

   More than half of the dismissed teachers were rehired the following year.

   Officials have said they hope to rehire many of the 900 employees who were laid off when the hospital closed.

---

noun

1. an act or instance of engaging someone’s services for payment a second or subsequent time.

   A transfer within the group of related companies is considered continuous employment, not a termination and a rehire.

2. a person whose services have been engaged for payment a second or subsequent time.

   Rehires are eligible to have their retirement benefits reinstated after a 30-day waiting period.

Etymology

Origin of rehire

First recorded in 1760–70; re- ( def. ) + hire ( def. )

Example Sentences

"Retire and rehire" schemes are designed to retain experienced officers who leave to access their pension.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

It cannot instantly rehire workers who found other jobs.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 19, 2026

Keep older adults who already have these skills working, rehire those we’re letting go and build a bridge at work between skilled, older adults and younger cohorts who could learn from them on the job.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 28, 2025

There’s also a pledge to rehire the hundreds of thousands of federal workers laid off since Oct.

From Slate • Nov. 12, 2025

“However, her actions were wrong. We will not rehire her.”

From "The Stars Beneath Our Feet" by David Barclay Moore

Related Words

• bring back
• reelect
• reestablish
• reintroduce
• renew
• replace
• restore
• revive