recreate

1 of 2

verb (1)

rec·​re·​ate ˈre-krē-ˌāt How to pronounce recreate (audio)
recreated; recreating; recreates

transitive verb

: to give new life or freshness to : refresh
supporters of preservation hope to recreate the architectural splendor that the old movie theater had when it first opened
… it became late enough to suggest tea. We had got through one brew, and the three great minds were recreating themselves with cake, when there came another knock at the door …G. Dosset

intransitive verb

: to take recreation
an old summer resort where families have been recreating for over a century
recreative adjective

re-create

2 of 2

verb (2)

re-cre·​ate ˌrē-krē-ˈāt How to pronounce re-create (audio)
variants or recreate
re-created or recreated; re-creating or recreating; re-creates

transitive verb

: to create again
especially : to form anew in the imagination
re-creatable adjective
re-creation noun
re-creative adjective
re-creator noun

Examples of recreate in a Sentence

Verb (1) supporters of preservation hope to recreate the architectural splendor that the old movie theater had when it first opened an old summer resort where families have been recreating for over a century Verb (2) The movie set re-creates a London street of 1895. The scene of the crime was re-created based upon police photographs.
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Verb
In her first film, writer-director Chandler Levack lovingly re-creates the Greater Toronto Area suburbs of her early-2000s teen years, right down to a fake video store. Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2024 Now, set yourself on a path to re-create those factors in the current situation. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 No wonder people try to re-create a little of that magic in their yards. Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2024 Take inspiration from these table designs and re-create them with our best decorating tips. Sandra S. Soria, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for recreate 

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English recreaten, borrowed from Latin recreāre "to make new, restore, revive" — more at recreation

Verb (2)

re- + create entry 1

First Known Use

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Verb (2)

1587, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of recreate was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near recreate

Cite this Entry

“Recreate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recreate. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

recreate

1 of 2 verb
rec·​re·​ate ˈrek-rē-ˌāt How to pronounce recreate (audio)
recreated; recreating
1
: to give new life or freshness to
2
: to take recreation
recreative
-ˌāt-iv
adjective

re-create

2 of 2 verb
re-cre·​ate
ˌrē-krē-ˈāt
: to create again especially in the imagination
re-creation
-ˈā-shən
noun
re-creative
-ˈāt-iv
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on recreate

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