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
Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
The franchise was rebooted for 1997’s Home Alone 3 with an all new cast, but with much less success.
—Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 14 Mar. 2025
Jordan Moreau, Variety, 17 Apr. 2025
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images New York is finally shrugging off the reboot of winter that followed the one nice Saturday in March, and, for fashionistas, the arrival of spring means one thing: the Met Gala.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 15 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reboot
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Verb
This helps obfuscate against security analysis and also reboots the malware with a system restart.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
The franchise was rebooted for 1997’s Home Alone 3 with an all new cast, but with much less success.
—Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 14 Mar. 2025
Noun
In the 2000s, Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans and Michael Chiklis played the heroes in two movies, then a disastrous 2015 reboot brought in Miles Teller, Kata Mara, Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Bell.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 17 Apr. 2025
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images New York is finally shrugging off the reboot of winter that followed the one nice Saturday in March, and, for fashionistas, the arrival of spring means one thing: the Met Gala.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 15 Apr. 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 21 Apr. 2025.
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