reset

American  

[ree-set, ree-set] / riˈsɛt, ˈriˌsɛt /

verb (used with object)

resets, present (3rd person singular) reset, past participle, past resetting present participle

1. to set again.

   to reset an alarm clock; to reset a broken bone.

2. to set, adjust, or fix in a new or different way.

   to reset priorities; to reset prices.

3. to illegally set back the odometer on (an auto or other vehicle) to a lower reading.

   a used-car dealer charged with resetting his cars.

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verb (used without object)

resets, present (3rd person singular) reset, past participle, past resetting present participle

1. to become set again.

   The alarm bell resets automatically.

noun

resets plural

1. an act or instance of setting again.

2. an act or instance of setting, adjusting, or fixing something in a new or different way.

   A reset of relations between the two countries may be impossible. Company executives recognized the need for a reset in their business.

3. something that is set again.

4. a plant that is replanted.

5. a device used in resetting an instrument or control mechanism.

reset ¹ British  

verb

1. to set again (a broken bone, matter in type, a gemstone, etc)

2. to restore (a gauge, dial, etc) to zero

3. Also: clear.  to restore (the contents of a register or similar device) in a computer system to zero

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noun

1. the act or an instance of setting again

2. a thing that is set again

3. a plant that has been recently transplanted

4. a device for resetting instruments, controls, etc

reset ² British  

verb

1. to receive or handle goods knowing they have been stolen

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noun

1. the receiving of stolen goods

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• resetter
  noun
• resettable
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• resets
  plural

Participles

• resetting
  present
• reset
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• reset
  simple
• resets
  simple
• have reset
  perfect
• has reset
  perfect
• am resetting
  progressive
• are resetting
  progressive
• is resetting
  progressive
• have been resetting
  perfect progressive
• has been resetting
  perfect progressive

Past

• reset
  simple
• had reset
  perfect
• was resetting
  progressive
• were resetting
  progressive
• had been resetting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will reset
  simple
• will have reset
  perfect
• will be resetting
  progressive
• will have been resetting
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of reset

First recorded in 1645–55; re- + set

Explanation

When you reset something, you start it over again or adjust it. If you accidentally set your alarm to go off at 3:00 am, you'll have to sleepily reset it for 7:00 am. You may like to reset your car's odometer before starting a long trip, so you can keep track of your gas mileage. Or, you might tend to reset your alarm clock on the weekends, so it wakes you later. You can also reset many electronics by essentially making them go back to zero, or to a starting point: "I need to reset my cellphone to the original factory settings."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

reset resets resetting

The airshow comes as the industry's expectations about Boeing are beginning to reset after a rocky period defined by safety crises, criminal probes and leadership shakeups.

From Barron's ● Jul. 16, 2026

Now, the looming reset — and the chance to create some distance from Platner’s scandals — offers Democrats a fresh chance to highlight reproductive rights, said Celinda Lake, a veteran Democratic pollster.

From Salon ● Jul. 14, 2026

At the same time, Ruemmler has been on a campaign to reset the narrative about her relationship with Epstein, keeping it alive in the headlines and the halls of Goldman Sachs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026

I tried to change the subject and reset the mood, but he insisted we keep hashing it out.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026

Then I reset the traps and placed them back in the holes.

From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls

At Goldman, Solomon said that the AI investment cycle would inevitably have bumps in the road, including potential market resets, but predicted those hiccups would be temporary.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

An experimental treatment that resets a malfunctioning immune system has put the disease lupus into remission in early UK trials.

From BBC ● Jun. 11, 2026

“But it has so many computer controls in it. You have to reboot it. Sometimes it resets, but not always. Then, you have to have a dealer tech come out and do it.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 19, 2026

“Stocks often price in gloomy scenarios during corrections that often don’t materialize. This resets expectations and creates a lower bar to clear,” he added.

From Barron's ● Mar. 30, 2026

“Once the loop resets he won’t remember a thing.”

From "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs

If it had deployed during your wife’s crash, the computer that monitors the system would have likely needed replacing or resetting, in addition to the impact sensors in the bumper and doors.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 13, 2026

Here she remade herself as a low-key singer-songwriter dispensing wise yet unflashy tunes about love, home and family — part of a gentle resetting of pop’s mood after the turmoil of the previous decade.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026

But months later new healthy B cells grow – effectively resetting the immune system.

From BBC ● Jun. 11, 2026

“While we are resetting near-term expectations, we expect that these actions will help set the stage for enhanced top and bottom-line results in 2027,” the CEO said.

From Barron's ● May 7, 2026

She had turned the corner, resetting back to her late twenties.

From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman

Related Words

• readjust
• reconstruct
• reorganize
• reposition
• reshuffle
• revamp
• rework