recreate

1 of 2

verb (1)

rec·​re·​ate ˈre-krē-ˌāt How to pronounce recreate (audio)
recreated; recreating; recreates
Synonyms of recreatenext

transitive verb

: to give new life or freshness to : refresh
supporters of preservation hope to recreate the architectural splendor that the old movie theater had when it first opened
… it became late enough to suggest tea. We had got through one brew, and the three great minds were recreating themselves with cake, when there came another knock at the door …— G. Dosset

intransitive verb

: to take recreation
an old summer resort where families have been recreating for over a century
recreative
ˈre-krē-ˌā-tiv How to pronounce recreate (audio)
adjective

re-create

2 of 2

verb (2)

re-cre·​ate ˌrē-krē-ˈāt How to pronounce re-create (audio)
variants or recreate
re-created or recreated; re-creating or recreating; re-creates

transitive verb

: to create again
especially : to form anew in the imagination
re-creatable
ˌrē-krē-ˈā-tə-bəl How to pronounce re-create (audio)
adjective
re-creation
ˌrē-krē-ˈā-shən How to pronounce re-create (audio)
noun
re-creative
ˌrē-krē-ˈā-tiv How to pronounce re-create (audio)
adjective
re-creator
ˌrē-krē-ˈā-tər How to pronounce re-create (audio)
noun

Synonyms

Verb (1)

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of recreate in a Sentence

Verb (1) supporters of preservation hope to recreate the architectural splendor that the old movie theater had when it first opened an old summer resort where families have been recreating for over a century Verb (2) The movie set re-creates a London street of 1895. The scene of the crime was re-created based upon police photographs.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
The administration’s logic seems to be that if the U.S. re-creates the manufacturing-heavy economy of the 1950s and ‘60s, when the prime-male labor force participation rate reached 97%, more men will get back to work. — Allison Schrager, Twin Cities, 19 Mar. 2025 Seth had seen other successful you-pick farms in the area and was fascinated by the idea of re-creating the Netherlands' iconic flower fields in Alabama. — Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 18 Mar. 2025 Gellar chatted with Glamour about the advice her Dexter costar Michael C. Hall told her about returning to an iconic role, her one film her kids don’t find cringe, and her rules for re-creating 90s fashion. — Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 17 Mar. 2025 To re-create the look, seek out secondhand pieces, order a new option, or print out public domain art and put it in antique frames. — Lauren Thomann, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for recreate

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English recreaten, borrowed from Latin recreāre "to make new, restore, revive" — more at recreation

Verb (2)

re- + create entry 1

First Known Use

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Verb (2)

1587, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of recreate was in the 15th century

Rhymes for recreate

See All Rhymes for recreate

Browse Nearby Words

re-create
recreate
recreation
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Recreate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recreate. Accessed 30 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

recreate

1 of 2 verb
rec·​re·​ate ˈrek-rē-ˌāt How to pronounce recreate (audio)
recreated; recreating
1
: to give new life or freshness to
2
: to take recreation
recreative
-ˌāt-iv
adjective

re-create

2 of 2 verb
re-cre·​ate
ˌrē-krē-ˈāt
: to create again especially in the imagination
re-creation
-ˈā-shən
noun
re-creative
-ˈāt-iv
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on recreate

Nglish: Translation of recreate for Spanish Speakers

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