Synonyms

resuscitate

American

[ri-suhs-i-teyt] / rɪˈsʌs ɪˌteɪt /

verb (used with object)

to revive, especially from apparent death or from unconsciousness.

resuscitate British

/ rɪˈsʌsɪˌteɪt /

verb

(tr) to restore to consciousness; revive

"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 resuscitate

1525–35; < Latin resuscitātus (past participle of resuscitāre “to reawaken”), equivalent to re- re- + sus- sus- + cit(āre) “to move, arouse” ( see cite ¹) + -ātus -ate ¹ ( def. )

Explanation

To resuscitate is to revive a person who has lost consciousness. In recent years it's become important for people to learn CPR so that they might resuscitate someone who loses consciousness, and many schools and hospitals offer classes in CPR. The Latin word suscitāre, "to raise," combines with re-, "again," to create the base of the verb resuscitate. Through the years, methods of resuscitation have advanced to the current sophisticated and effective levels of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, and defibrillation paddles that can shock a heart back to life. In fact, some patients nowadays ask to sign a "do not resuscitate" (DNR) order to allow them to die without medical interventions like resuscitation.

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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.

"The first of the two was pulled out alive, but unfortunately, his body gave out and he did not survive. Doctors could not resuscitate him," regional fire bureau spokeswoman Maria Leah Sajili told AFP.

From Barron's • May 25, 2026

On the campaign trail, he’s promising to resuscitate the city’s entertainment industry by fast-tracking film permits and cutting red tape.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

Salzburg police said first responders used a defibrillator on Manninger, who was alone in the car, after he was freed from the vehicle, which was dragged along by the train, but could not resuscitate him.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

As she tries to resuscitate the Japanese economy, the last thing Takaichi needs is another shock from the U.S.

From Barron's • Mar. 18, 2026

She would find it increasingly exhausting to conjure up, to dust off, to resuscitate once again what was long dead.

From "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini

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