re·boot
(ˌ)rē-ˈbüt 
rebooted; rebooting; reboots
1
a
transitive + intransitive
: to shut down and restart (a computer or program)
… the annoyance of having to reboot the computer to switch operating systems …—
Robert Weston
Robert WestonIf anything ever happens to the original drive, you can reboot using the cloned drive and be up and running in minutes.—Dan Frakes
Dan Frakes
b
intransitive
: to start up again after closing or shutting down : to boot up again
waiting for a computer/program to reboot
2
a
transitive
: to start (something) anew : to refresh (something) by making a new start or creating a new version
It's probably not an overstatement to say Sandberg is embarking on the most ambitious mission to reboot feminism and reframe discussions of gender since the launch of Ms. magazine in 1971.—Belinda Luscombe
Belinda Luscombereboot an old TV series
b
intransitive
: to start anew : to make a fresh start
The interior designer's heart was telling her to reboot and downsize …—Susan Heeger
Susan Heeger
plural reboots
1
: the act or an instance of shutting down and restarting something (such as a computer or program)
In a few cases, errors cause a headlong exit to DOS or the software ceases to operate, requiring a reboot.—George F. Hepner
George F. Hepner2
: the act or an instance of starting (something) anew or making a fresh start
In a massive reboot last fall, all 200 rooms were done up in geometric rugs and curvy leather headboards.—Jen Murphy
Jen MurphyExamples of reboot in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 7 Mar. 2025
Entire sequences are devoted to tasks as humdrum as rebooting a ship’s computer (which involves untangling a lot of wires) and shepherding a little robotic sub to try retrieving Lemons, which resembles a very tense version of a fairground claw game.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2025
Monica Mercuri, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
Thankfully for Troma fans, the reboot stuck to the splatter film spirit of the original.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reboot
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Verb
Later ones disabled malware detection apps and connected to command-and-control servers; affected devices remained infected even after being rebooted.
—Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 7 Mar. 2025
Entire sequences are devoted to tasks as humdrum as rebooting a ship’s computer (which involves untangling a lot of wires) and shepherding a little robotic sub to try retrieving Lemons, which resembles a very tense version of a fairground claw game.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2025
Noun
Netflix’s Temptation Island reboot is bringing the heat as one of the steamiest dating shows streaming right now.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
Thankfully for Troma fans, the reboot stuck to the splatter film spirit of the original.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reboot
Cite this Entry
“Reboot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reboot. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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