rebuild

verb

re·​build (ˌ)rē-ˈbild 

rebuilt (ˌ)rē-ˈbilt  ; rebuilding

transitive verb

1

a

: to make extensive repairs to : reconstruct

rebuild a war-torn city

b

: to restore to a previous state

rebuild inventories

2

: to make extensive changes in : remodel

rebuild society

intransitive verb

: to build again

planned to rebuild after the fire

Choose the Right Synonym for rebuild

mend, repair, patch, rebuild mean to put into good order something that is injured, damaged, or defective.

mend implies making whole or sound something broken, torn, or injured.

mended the torn dress

repair applies to the fixing of more extensive damage or dilapidation.

repaired the back steps

patch implies an often temporary fixing of a hole or break with new material.

patch worn jeans

rebuild suggests making like new without completely replacing.

a rebuilt automobile engine

Examples of rebuild in a Sentence

He rebuilt his house after it was destroyed by a fire.

They tried to rebuild after the earthquake.

The new owner plans to rebuild the franchise.

The team is rebuilding after losing most of its top players.

Recent Examples on the Web

For any leader, rebuilding trust and strengthening connections can reinvigorate organizational culture and drive performance. —Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024

Accompanied by an expert local guide, guests can explore the tranquil grounds, which are ritually rebuilt every 20 years to embody the impermanence and renewal at the heart of this belief system. —Scott Campbell, theweek, 23 Dec. 2024

King Charles' grandfather, King George VI, laid the foundation stone when the hospital was rebuilt in 1928, and though the medical hub shuttered in 2005, the chapel remains open to the public today as a place of meditation. —Janine Henni, People.com, 23 Dec. 2024

Corbet’s third feature centers on Adrien Brody’s László Toth, a Brutalist architect from Hungary attempting to rebuild his life in postwar America. —Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 22 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1537, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Kids Definition

rebuild

verb

re·​build (ˈ)rē-ˈbild 

rebuilt -ˈbilt  ; rebuilding

1

: to make important repairs to or changes in

rebuild an old house

2

: to build again

planned to rebuild after the fire