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
See the Heat, too, drop in the standings as Butler plays hard with a new contract and resuscitates Golden State.
—
Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2025
The Kingmaker shows how Imelda Marcos was able to overcome exile and disgrace after the ouster of her husband, dictator Ferdinand Marcos, and eventually resuscitate her image and her children’s political viability.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 14 Mar. 2025
When paramedics found Anthony, a first responder resuscitated him.
—Charles Trepany, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2025
Her mother, a nurse, resuscitated her as an infant – a few years later, the family moved to Akko in Israel.
—John Werner, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for resuscitate
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Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2025
The Kingmaker shows how Imelda Marcos was able to overcome exile and disgrace after the ouster of her husband, dictator Ferdinand Marcos, and eventually resuscitate her image and her children’s political viability.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 14 Mar. 2025
When paramedics found Anthony, a first responder resuscitated him.
—Charles Trepany, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2025
Her mother, a nurse, resuscitated her as an infant – a few years later, the family moved to Akko in Israel.
—John Werner, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for resuscitate
Cite this Entry
“Resuscitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/resuscitate. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.
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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