rewire

verb

re·​wire (ˌ)rē-ˈwī(-ə)r 

rewired; rewiring

transitive verb

1

: to provide or connect (something) with wire again

especially : to replace the electrical wiring of (something, such as a building or electronic device)

rewired the house

rewire a circuit board

2

: to make lasting and usually beneficial changes to the neurological or psychological functioning of (a person or brain)

—not used technically

The injured brain, moreover, can rewire itself.

—Joan Didion

Not only do studies show that meditation is boosting their immune system, but brain scans suggest that it may be rewiring their brains to reduce stress.

—Joel Stein

… nearly nine out of 10 adult smokers started smoking by age 18; nicotine can rewire youths' brains, making heroin and other opioids even more addictive.

—Delia DeRiggiWhitton

Can you rewire yourself? I went back through pivotal points in my life, when one should be happy.

—Kim Korson

Examples of rewire in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The ability to rewire plant metabolism marks a milestone. —Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 13 Sep. 2025

Such findings support the idea that relational interactions, even playful ones, have the power to actively rewire the brain, improving emotional resilience and social connection. —Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025

Stress during pregnancy may rewire a baby’s brain for anxiety, a new study found. —New Atlas, 11 Sep. 2025

These moments help rewire the emotional circuitry away from validation-seeking and back toward genuine connection, what the psyche is truly longing for beneath the performance. —Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for rewire

• briar
• brier
• buyer
• choir
• crier
• cryer
• drier
• dryer
• eyer
• flier
• flyer
• friar