What does "rehabilitate" mean?
To restore (someone) to their former state, reputation, possessions, status etc.
Rehabilitate
verb
verb ·5 syllables ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: To restore (someone) to their former state, reputation, possessions, status etc.
- Grammar: rehabilitate is listed as verb.
- Nearest alternatives: account for, boost ecosystem vitality, change, clear.
- Useful contrasts: addicting, addicts, cankering.
- Usage evidence: Either we are forcibly bound up in the present, or we lose ourselves in the long gone-by, and seek back for what is utterly lost, as if it were possible to summon it up again, and rehabilitate it.
How to use "rehabilitate"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "rehabilitate" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "rehabilitate" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "rehabilitate" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "rehabilitate" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "rehabilitate" is acting as verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "account for" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "rehabilitate", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Verb
- 1 To restore (someone) to their former state, reputation, possessions, status etc. transitive
- 2 help to readapt, as to a former state of health or good repute wordnet
- 3 To vindicate; to restore the reputation or image of (a person, concept etc.). transitive
- 4 restore to a state of good condition or operation wordnet
- 5 To return (something) to its original condition. transitive
Show 5 more definitions
- 6 reinstall politically wordnet
- 7 To restore or repair (a vehicle, building); to make habitable or usable again. Canada, US, transitive
"Cumaratunga was so furious that he intensified his campaign for revitalizing the traditional practices of asweddumization, so that neglected arable land could be rehabilitated, and a degenerating economy restructured and rejuvenated."
- 8 To restore to (a criminal etc.) the necessary training and education to allow for a successful reintegration into society; to retrain. transitive
- 9 To return (someone) to good health after illness, addiction, etc. transitive
"Patty Wahlers, 40, is the founder and director of Horse of Connecticut, an organization situated on a 46-acre farm in Washington that rescues and rehabilitates neglected horses and puts them up for adoption."
- 10 To go through such a process; to recover. intransitive
"Truman made us all feel welcome and relaxed as we shook hands with him. We sat around the desk, and he spoke very earnestly about the necessity of rehabilitating Europe and emphasized his concern that peaceful German production should be encouraged."
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Either we are forcibly bound up in the present, or we lose ourselves in the long gone-by, and seek back for what is utterly lost, as if it were possible to summon it up again, and rehabilitate it."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "rehabilitate"?
Common synonyms include: account for, boost ecosystem vitality, change, clear, convalesce, cry sour grapes.
How do you use "rehabilitate" in a sentence?
Either we are forcibly bound up in the present, or we lose ourselves in the long gone-by, and seek back for what is utterly lost, as if it were possible to summon it up again, and rehabilitate it.
Etymology
Learned borrowing from Medieval Latin rehabilitātus, perfect passive participle of Latin rehabilitō.