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.
Sarah came close to being rehomed twice before the Baker family happily took her. Latoya Gayle, People.com, 27 Dec. 2024 Because shelters are full, healthy pets that need to be rehomed due to a change in housing or loss of a job have no place to go, which has led to an increase in pet abandonments, according to the AHS. Karen Bartunek, The Arizona Republic, 24 Dec. 2024 Albie's owner, Katie, told Newsweek that the cat, whose breed is still uncertain, was adopted from a shelter in 2022 after showing some severe stress reactions and the urgent need to be rehomed. Gord Magill, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024 Most of these items have since been rehomed, but some are collecting dust in the garage of my childhood home in New Jersey. Sydney Gore, Architectural Digest, 20 Dec. 2024 Carpino was looking for cat traps, which folks use to catch strays so they can be spayed/neutered/rehomed. Teri Sforza, Orange County Register, 6 Dec. 2024 The event celebrated and raised funds for the Vanderpump Dog Foundation’s efforts in rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming dogs. Charna Flam, People.com, 19 Nov. 2024 Laila's Legacy Animal Rescue, a nonprofit focused on helping to rehome homeless animals and those in shelters regardless of behavioral or physical challenges, stepped up in the nick of time, pulling the dog Ivy out of an animal shelter. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2024 The man dismissed her and declined her offer for tanks to rehome the fish. Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 11 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1857, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rehome was in 1857

Dictionary Entries Near rehome

Cite this Entry

“Rehome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rehome. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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