Synonyms

reinstate

American

[ree-in-steyt] / ˌri ɪnˈsteɪt /

verb (used with object)

to put back or establish again, as in a former position or state.

to reinstate the ousted chairman.

reinstate British

/ ˌriːɪnˈsteɪt /

verb

(tr) to restore to a former rank or condition

"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

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Etymology

Origin of reinstate

First recorded in 1620–30; re- + instate

Explanation

When you reinstate someone, you return that person to a position or job. A principal might reinstate a laid off teacher when the school starts hiring again. Bosses can reinstate employees, countries can reinstate kings and queens, and governments can reinstate, or bring back, old laws. For example, during times of war the United States could very well reinstate the draft, which is not currently a law but has been in the past. Although it's not as common as reinstate, the word instate, from which it comes, means "to put someone in a certain state or condition."

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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.

He is also asking the Forum to reinstate personal security for him and cover at least half of his personal legal costs related to the dispute.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 6, 2026

Last week, an arbitrator overturned that decision and ordered the school to reinstate the tenured professor.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 30, 2026

With their bold scripts, memorable atmospheres and breathtaking visual landscapes, these films were enough to reinstate some faith in the Hollywood machine.

From Salon • Jun. 10, 2026

Deputies have been summoned to a full session of the assembly on Tuesday morning to reinstate Sonko as a member of parliament and vote for a new speaker, said an official document published late Sunday.

From Barron's • May 24, 2026

If Luma decided to reinstate the Fifteens, they’d have perhaps three practices before their first game.

From "Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman's Quest to Make a Difference" by Warren St. John

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