respawn

[ree-spawn]

verb (used without object)

1. (of a character or item in a video game) to reenter an existing game environment at a fixed point after having been defeated or otherwise removed from play.

   If another player character has already opened the treasure chest, you will have to wait a few minutes for the chest to respawn.

adjective

1. of or relating to the respawning of a character or item in a video game: respawn animations.

   the respawn rate;

   respawn animations.

Word History and Origins

Origin of respawn¹

First recorded in 1990–95; re- + spawn

Example Sentences

“And this won’t be like the video games we play. We can’t rush in shorthanded to get a feel for the level and then respawn after we die. He will kill you.”

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Joel and Ellie respawn infinitely, but the game makes us feel every single snuffing instead of pausing before the action gets grisly.

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Respawn, the studio behind popular games “Apex Legends” and “Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order,” has a big presence in Los Angeles but also opened studios in Canada and Wisconsin.

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Respawn canceled the development of a “Titanfall” game that wasn’t close to being released, Bloomberg reported.

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“These decisions are not easy, and we are deeply grateful to every teammate affected,” Respawn said in the statement.

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