rehabilitate
verb
re·ha·bil·i·tate
ˌrē-ə-ˈbi-lə-ˌtāt 
ˌrē-hə-
ˌrē-hə-
rehabilitated; rehabilitating
1
a
: to restore to a former capacity : reinstate
b
: to restore to good repute : reestablish the good name of
2
a
: to restore to a former state (as of efficiency, good management, or solvency)
rehabilitate slum areas
b
: to restore or bring to a condition of health or useful and constructive activity
Examples of rehabilitate in a Sentence
The clinic rehabilitates drug addicts.
He's still rehabilitating the knee he injured last summer.
They try to rehabilitate horses that have suffered injuries.
The program is intended to rehabilitate criminals.
The country has rehabilitated its image since the war.
The city plans to rehabilitate its slum areas.
Recent Examples on the Web
How to become a wildlife rehabilitator The process to legally take care of certain kinds of restricted wildlife varies by state, but virtually everyone who wants to help rehabilitate a squirrel or similar animal in the U.S. needs a permit from their state and possibly the federal government.
—
Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 3 Nov. 2024
So Gascón said what’s under review is the evidence that was never presented that could have changed the outcome, as well as considering, under California law, if the brothers are rehabilitated prisoners who are safe to reenter the community.
—Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Oct. 2024
State legislators have been exploring restorative justice programs, which aim to hold offenders accountable, rehabilitate them and provide healing for victims.
—Lauren Jessop | The Center Square Contributor, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 18 Oct. 2024
Having rehabilitated the century-old Villa Noailles and revealed as-yet unknowns (Viktor & Rolf, Raf Simons, Glenn Martins, Julien Dossena, and Anthony Vaccarello among them) the Festival has reshaped its hometown and the surrounding region.
—Tina Isaac-Goizé, Vogue, 13 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rehabilitate 
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Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 3 Nov. 2024
So Gascón said what’s under review is the evidence that was never presented that could have changed the outcome, as well as considering, under California law, if the brothers are rehabilitated prisoners who are safe to reenter the community.
—Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Oct. 2024
State legislators have been exploring restorative justice programs, which aim to hold offenders accountable, rehabilitate them and provide healing for victims.
—Lauren Jessop | The Center Square Contributor, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 18 Oct. 2024
Having rehabilitated the century-old Villa Noailles and revealed as-yet unknowns (Viktor & Rolf, Raf Simons, Glenn Martins, Julien Dossena, and Anthony Vaccarello among them) the Festival has reshaped its hometown and the surrounding region.
—Tina Isaac-Goizé, Vogue, 13 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rehabilitate
Dictionary Entries Near rehabilitate
Cite this Entry
“Rehabilitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rehabilitate. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rehabilitate
verb
re·ha·bil·i·tate
ˌrē-(h)ə-ˈbil-ə-ˌtāt
rehabilitated; rehabilitating
1
: to restore to a former status or reputation
2
a
: to restore to a state of efficiency, good management, or repair
rehabilitate slum areas
b
: to restore to a condition of health or useful and constructive activity
rehabilitate criminals
Medical Definition
rehabilitate
transitive verb
re·ha·bil·i·tate
ˌrē-(h)ə-ˈbil-ə-ˌtāt
rehabilitated; rehabilitating
: to restore or bring to a condition of health or useful and constructive activity
rehabilitate patients with hip fractures
Legal Definition
rehabilitate
transitive verb
re·ha·bil·i·tate
ˌrē-ə-ˈbi-lə-ˌtāt, ˌrē-hə-
rehabilitated; rehabilitating
1
: to restore to a former capacity
specifically
: to restore credibility to (a witness or testimony)
the State simply brought out all of the prior statements to qualify or explain the inconsistency and to rehabilitate the witness —People v. Page, 550 N.E.2d 248 (1990)
compare impeach
People v. Page, 550 N.E.2d 248 (1990) Note: A witness whose trial testimony is inconsistent with his or her pretrial usually sworn statements is considered impeached. Such a witness may be rehabilitated usually on redirect examination. There are various state and federal evidentiary rules governing what evidence (as character evidence) is admissible to rehabilitate a witness.
2
a
: to restore to a former state (as of good repair or solvency)
if the debtor wishes to liquidate rather than reorganize or rehabilitate the farming operation—J. H. Williamson
J. H. Williamson
b
: to restore (as a convicted criminal defendant) to a useful and constructive place in society through therapy, job training, and other counseling
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