rewire

verb

re·​wire (ˌ)rē-ˈwī(-ə)r How to pronounce rewire (audio)
rewired; rewiring

transitive verb

1
: to provide or connect (something) with wire again
especially : to replace the electrical wiring of (something, such as a building or electronic device)
rewired the house
rewire a circuit board
2
: to make lasting and usually beneficial changes to the neurological or psychological functioning of (a person or brain)
—not used technically
The injured brain, moreover, can rewire itself.— Joan Didion
Not only do studies show that meditation is boosting their immune system, but brain scans suggest that it may be rewiring their brains to reduce stress.— Joel Stein
… nearly nine out of 10 adult smokers started smoking by age 18; nicotine can rewire youths' brains, making heroin and other opioids even more addictive.— Delia DeRiggiWhitton
Can you rewire yourself? I went back through pivotal points in my life, when one should be happy.— Kim Korson

Examples of rewire in a Sentence

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.
The reaction reaffirmed her mission: to challenge people to rewire their beliefs, step into their integrity, and move from limited to limitless thinking. — Molly Peck, USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2025 This shift rewired how people think about career security. — Nirit Cohen, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025 Democrats have been on their back feet as Trump and Musk fire federal workers, cut off foreign aid and rewire the country's bureaucracy. — Stephen Neukam, Axios, 19 Feb. 2025 This rule can rewire your brain so that your impulse will no longer be to question actions, but to do them, Robbins says. — Aditi Shrikant, CNBC, 18 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rewire

Word History

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rewire was in 1881

Rhymes for rewire

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Browse Nearby Words

rewirable
rewire
rewood
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Cite this Entry

“Rewire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rewire. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.

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