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
The incentive to rehabilitate historic buildings was also restored, though its cap was lowered from $125 million to $85 million.
—
Gene Maddaus, Variety, 22 Nov. 2024
The Bastrop City Council on Tuesday reallocated $2.1 million in federal COVID-relief funds to rehabilitate two of the city’s wastewater treatment plants.
—Aaron Sullivan, Austin American-Statesman, 21 Nov. 2024
Bosa, too, rested and rehabilitated this week rather than practice Wednesday and Thursday.
—Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
At this stage, efforts remain focused on rehabilitating the penguin, the government department said.
—Peter Guo, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rehabilitate 
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Gene Maddaus, Variety, 22 Nov. 2024
The Bastrop City Council on Tuesday reallocated $2.1 million in federal COVID-relief funds to rehabilitate two of the city’s wastewater treatment plants.
—Aaron Sullivan, Austin American-Statesman, 21 Nov. 2024
Bosa, too, rested and rehabilitated this week rather than practice Wednesday and Thursday.
—Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
At this stage, efforts remain focused on rehabilitating the penguin, the government department said.
—Peter Guo, NBC News, 12 Nov. 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 1 Dec. 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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