rehab

noun

re·​hab ˈrē-ˌhab 

often attributive

1

: the action or process of rehabilitating : rehabilitation

especially : a program for rehabilitating especially drug or alcohol abusers

2

: a rehabilitated building or dwelling

rehab verb

rehabber

ˈrē-ˌha-bər 

noun

Synonyms

• comeback
• convalescence
• healing
• mending
• rally
• recovery
• recuperation
• rehabilitation
• snapback

Examples of rehab in a Sentence

The rehab for his leg injury is going well.

the accident victim had to undergo months of rehab before she could walk again

Recent Examples on the Web

Nick Mears and Quinn Priester will join the team in Denver, where the Brewers open a three-game series tonight at Coors Field while right-hander Tobias Myers is heading to Nashville to start a minor-league rehab assignment. —Andrew Wagner, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025

McCullers is scheduled to make his third minor-league rehab start on Saturday for Sugar Land and, if there are no setbacks, could return sometime in early May. —Chandler Rome, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025

The manager added that the plan is for LeMahieu to begin a rehab assignment on Friday. —Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 7 Apr. 2025

Bobby Miller started Sunday for OKC and Tony Gonsolin has made just one start on his rehab assignment there and went just 1⅔ innings. —Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 6 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

short for rehabilitation or rehabilitate

First Known Use

1941, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

rehab

noun

re·​hab ˈrē-ˌhab 

often attributive

: rehabilitation

especially : a program for rehabilitating especially drug or alcohol abusers