rearm

verb
re·​arm | \ (ˌ)rē-ˈärm How to pronounce rearm (audio) \
rearmed; rearming; rearms

Definition of rearm

transitive verb

: to arm (a nation, a military force, etc.) again with new or better weapons

intransitive verb

: to become armed again

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Other Words from rearm

rearmament \ (ˌ)rē-​ˈär-​mə-​mənt How to pronounce rearmament (audio) \ noun

Examples of rearm in a Sentence

The treaty forbids the country to rearm. Another country was rearming their enemies.

Recent Examples on the Web

Instead, Stalin rearmed during the non-aggression pact with Hitler. Victor Davis Hanson, The Mercury News, "Hanson: The bad deal that led directly to the start of World War II," 15 Aug. 2019 On land, Britain had only partly rearmed following its post-World War I disarmament.... Bartle Bull, WSJ, "‘Blood, Oil and the Axis’ Review: The Front That Was Left Behind," 9 May 2019 But the jihadist groups, who are sweeping across much of the Sahel, have reformed, rearmed and recruited new fighters. W.b., The Economist, "A new round of violence in Mali," 3 July 2019 This fits with reporting from the region that thousands of renegade FARC members have rearmed and returned to the battlefield. Mary Anastasia O’grady, WSJ, "A Phony Peace in Colombia," 23 Sep. 2018 From touchdown on the landing strip to takeoff on another mission—including refueling and rearming with four 1,000-pound Mk.84 unguided bombs—required only 20 minutes. Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "The A-10 Warthog Was a Badass Even in This Old-School '70s Film," 3 May 2018 On your taxes, Reb Berish, Germany is being rearmed. Ben Taub, The New Yorker, "The Boarder," 30 Apr. 2018 This troubling order will simply rearm those critics. David Smiley, miamiherald, "Where Miami’s congressional delegation stands on Trump’s Guantánamo Bay order | Miami Herald," 31 Jan. 2018 That’s why the EU’s foreign ministers should condemn Hezbollah now for rearming in violation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 and for hiding weapons among civilians. Daniel Schwammenthal, WSJ, "How to Prevent the Next Mideast War," 11 Dec. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rearm.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of rearm

1750, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

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More Definitions for rearm

rearm

verb

English Language Learners Definition of rearm

: to obtain new weapons
: to supply (someone or something) with new weapons