1 rehabilitate | Definition of rehabilitate
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rehabilitate

verb
re·​ha·​bil·​i·​tate | \ ˌrē-ə-ˈbi-lə-ˌtāt How to pronounce rehabilitate (audio) , ˌrē-hə- How to pronounce rehabilitate (audio) \
rehabilitated; rehabilitating

Definition of rehabilitate

transitive verb

1a : to restore to a former capacity : reinstate
b : to restore to good repute : reestablish the good name of
2a : 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
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Other Words from rehabilitate

rehabilitative \ ˌrē-​ə-​ˈbi-​lə-​ˌtā-​tiv How to pronounce rehabilitative (audio) , ˌrē-​hə-​ How to pronounce rehabilitative (audio) \ adjective
rehabilitator \ ˌrē-​ə-​ˈbi-​lə-​ˌtā-​tər How to pronounce rehabilitator (audio) , ˌrē-​hə-​ How to pronounce rehabilitator (audio) \ noun

Synonyms for rehabilitate

Synonyms

habilitate, reclaim, redeem, reform, regenerate

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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.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 Jacob claimed to have rehabilitated herself while awaiting sentencing. — Edmund H. Mahony, courant.com, "Bridgeport woman gets prison in multimillion-dollar welfare swindle," 7 Aug. 2019 Raheem Mostert and Austin Walter are handling the other workload while Jeff Wilson (calf) rehabilitates. — Cam Inman, The Mercury News, "What does McKinnon’s clearance mean for 49ers running backs?," 6 Aug. 2019 Baum is proposing to rehabilitate the 40,000-square-foot building and create a 10,000-square-foot event space and perhaps an accompanying brewery or café, Schloss said. — Elliot Hughes, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "A new event space and brewery could be coming soon to West Allis," 6 Aug. 2019 Cincinnati is going to need every bit of his productivity while star wide receiver A.J. Green is out rehabilitating his left ankle injury. — Tyler Dragon, Cincinnati.com, "Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon smiles at the thought of this season," 4 Aug. 2019 Law enforcement rehabilitated and eventually released hundreds of specimens from Operation Ornery Birds. — Karine Aigner, National Geographic, "Songbirds are being snatched from Miami’s forests," 25 July 2019 Prisoners should be offered all reasonable incentives to rehabilitate themselves. — Lynn S. Adelman, Twin Cities, "Lynn S. Adelman: There’s another tough-on-crime law Democrats should focus their criticism on," 12 July 2019 Local officials have shelled out millions to rehabilitate the creek and add a mile-long park on its banks. — Madison Iszler, ExpressNews.com, "Developer breaks ground on 323-unit complex along San Pedro Creek," 1 July 2019 Inmates can take courses in yoga, chess and other activities intended to rehabilitate. — The Economist, "America’s most interesting sheriff," 8 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rehabilitate.' 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 rehabilitate

circa 1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

History and Etymology for rehabilitate

Medieval Latin rehabilitatus, past participle of rehabilitare, from Latin re- + Late Latin habilitare to habilitate

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More Definitions for rehabilitate

rehabilitate

verb
How to pronounce rehabilitate (audio) How to pronounce rehabilitate (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of rehabilitate

: to bring (someone or something) back to a normal, healthy condition after an illness, injury, drug problem, etc.
: to teach (a criminal in prison) to live a normal and productive life
: to bring (someone or something) back to a good condition

See the full definition for rehabilitate in the English Language Learners Dictionary

rehabilitate

transitive verb
re·​ha·​bil·​i·​tate | \ ˌrē-(h)ə-ˈbil-ə-ˌtāt How to pronounce rehabilitate (audio) \
rehabilitated; rehabilitating

Medical Definition of rehabilitate

: to restore or bring to a condition of health or useful and constructive activity rehabilitate patients with hip fractures

rehabilitate

transitive verb
re·​ha·​bil·​i·​tate | \ ˌrē-ə-ˈbi-lə-ˌtāt, ˌrē-hə- How to pronounce rehabilitate (audio) \
rehabilitated; rehabilitating

Legal Definition of rehabilitate

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

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.

2a : 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
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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