resuscitate
verb
re·sus·ci·tate
ri-ˈsə-sə-ˌtāt 
resuscitated; resuscitating
: to revive from apparent death or from unconsciousness
also
: revitalize
Did you know?
The 16th century was a good one for words ending in the suffix -ate. Not only did our featured word, resuscitate, breathe life into the English language but so did the verbs anticipate ("to give advance thought, discussion, or treatment to"), eradicate ("to do away with completely"), estimate ("to esteem" or "to appraise"), and perpetuate ("to make perpetual"). It was a good century for words about words, too—vocabulary, quip, and hearsay all premiered as well.
Examples of resuscitate in a Sentence
The patient stopped breathing but doctors were able to resuscitate him.
she hopes to resuscitate the currently defunct charity organization
Recent Examples on the Web
The Phillies now will turn to Mattingly, who kept the coaching staff intact, to resuscitate their season and try to at least keep them in the hunt for an NL wild-card spot.
—
Dan Gelston, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
Osmon is particularly keen on resuscitating Seger, an artist who often gets short shrift in standard rock histories.
—Jack Hamilton, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2026
The Minnesota Wild’s special teams failed them once again, but the team’s season has been resuscitated by its rugged fourth line and overtime heroics from star forward Matt Boldy.
—Michael Russo, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Great Salt Lake is an issue Utah leaders have been working to resuscitate for nearly a decade; Cox knew the talking points.
—Saige Miller, NPR, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for resuscitate
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Dan Gelston, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
Osmon is particularly keen on resuscitating Seger, an artist who often gets short shrift in standard rock histories.
—Jack Hamilton, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2026
The Minnesota Wild’s special teams failed them once again, but the team’s season has been resuscitated by its rugged fourth line and overtime heroics from star forward Matt Boldy.
—Michael Russo, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Great Salt Lake is an issue Utah leaders have been working to resuscitate for nearly a decade; Cox knew the talking points.
—Saige Miller, NPR, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for resuscitate
Cite this Entry
“Resuscitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/resuscitate. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
resuscitate
verb
re·sus·ci·tate
ri-ˈsəs-ə-ˌtāt
resuscitated; resuscitating
1
: to bring back from apparent death or from unconsciousness
2
Medical Definition
resuscitate
transitive verb
re·sus·ci·tate
ri-ˈsəs-ə-ˌtāt
resuscitated; resuscitating
: to revive from apparent death or from unconsciousness
resuscitate a nearly drowned person by artificial respiration
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