rehome

verb

re·​home (ˌ)rē-ˈhōm How to pronounce rehome (audio)
rehomed; rehoming; rehomes

transitive verb

: to provide (someone or something) with a different home or location : relocate
The goal is to rehome unused crafting materials that are in good condition so they don't end up in the landfill or collect dust in a drawer.Maria Lockwood
… the St. Petersburg couple has made a career out of saving bees, running a removal service and nonprofit organization full time. Noble Nectar Apiaries removes the flying critters and rehomes them as an alternative to extermination.Selene San Felice
: such as
a
: to transfer ownership or possession of (an animal and especially a pet)
Social media is full of posts from people who say they're rehoming their pet. They claim they're not home enough to give them the kind of life they deserve.John Moore
Cats continue to prowl the Queens' Marketplace despite efforts by advocacy groups to rehome 98 feral felines last year.Kelsey Walling
b
: to establish (someone, such as a refugee or displaced person) in a new home or location
The International Rescue Committee, a global organization that rehomes refugees, is helping settle around 100 refugees in Iowa City over the next couple of months after opening an Iowa City office late last year.The Daily Iowan (University of Iowa)
… a concert will raise the funds needed to rehome Monona [Wisconsin] residents displaced by fire in mid March.Roberta Baumann
rehoming noun
Rehoming allows your pet to transition from one home to another, bypassing the stress of a shelter. Sarah A. Neikam

Examples of rehome in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Additionally, the Alberts’ dog Chloe — who was known to be violent, according to Vanity Fair — was also rehomed in the months after O’Keefe’s death, per The Boston Globe. Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 18 Mar. 2025 Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa-Hackman's two surviving dogs were successfully rehomed, Fox News Digital has confirmed. Tracy Wright, Fox News, 17 Mar. 2025 Red flags can include people who adopt frequently, but then rehome the animals, or those who have animals in the home that are not spayed or neutered. Beth Lipoff, Kansas City Star, 5 Feb. 2025 Additional Tips for Living With a Cat For many, their cats are part of the family, and rehoming them isn’t an option. Daniel More, Verywell Health, 15 Jan. 2025 The city has set aside $29.5 million for rehousing people for the 2025 budget year, enough to rehome 360 households and support 1,000 more. Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 21 Feb. 2025 In 2020, Maas’s publishers changed up their marketing strategy, causing the series to be rehomed in the adult section. Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025 The founder of the Beagle Freedom Project spent years dedicated to animal welfare, rescuing and rehoming former lab animals. Madeline Gunderson, USA TODAY, 25 Apr. 2024 The reasons why a pig needs to be rehomed can greatly differ. Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 15 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1857, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rehome was in 1857

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Cite this Entry

“Rehome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rehome. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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