resuscitate
verb
re·sus·ci·tate ri-ˈsə-sə-ˌtāt 
resuscitated; resuscitating
transitive verb
: to revive from apparent death or from unconsciousness
also : revitalize
intransitive verb
: come to, revive
resuscitative
ri-ˈsə-sə-ˌtā-tiv
adjective 
Did you know?
The 16th century was a good one for words ending in the suffix -ate. Not only did our featured word, resuscitate, breathe life into the English language but so did the verbs anticipate ("to give advance thought, discussion, or treatment to"), eradicate ("to do away with completely"), estimate ("to esteem" or "to appraise"), and perpetuate ("to make perpetual"). It was a good century for words about words, too—vocabulary, quip, and hearsay all premiered as well.
Synonyms
- freshen
- recharge
- recreate
- refresh
- refreshen
- regenerate
- rejuvenate
- renew
- repair
- restore
- revitalize
- revive
- revivify
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The patient stopped breathing but doctors were able to resuscitate him. she hopes to resuscitate the currently defunct charity organization
Recent Examples on the Web The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority shifted some Boston-area commuter trains from peak commute times to midday to try to resuscitate ridership, which hovers at 39 percent of pre-pandemic levels. 
Washington Post, 4 Mar. 2022 During earlier outbreaks, trillions in government assistance helped quickly resuscitate the struggling U.S. and European economies. New York Times, 2 Dec. 2021 First responders attempted to resuscitate him but pronounced him dead at 12:44 p.m. Elliot Hughes, Journal Sentinel, 2 Aug. 2022 Abe arrived at hospital in a state of cardiac arrest and despite a team of medical staff fighting to resuscitate him, the former prime minister died from excessive bleeding caused by gunshot wounds to his neck and heart, doctors said. Mayumi Maruyama, CNN, 9 July 2022 First responders attempted to resuscitate him for 20 minutes before he was pronounced dead, officials said. Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 7 July 2022 Saturday’s closing ceremony brought to a close a Cannes that attempted to fully resuscitate the annual France extravaganza that was canceled in 2020 by the pandemic and saw modest crowds last year. Jake Coyle, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2022 The closing ceremony brings to a close a Cannes that has attempted to fully resuscitate the annual France extravaganza which was canceled in 2020 by the pandemic and saw modest crowds last year. Jake Coyle, ajc, 28 May 2022 Other video showed Palestinian medical crews and paramedics attempting to resuscitate al-Fayed and showed the 18-year-old on a hospital bed at Jenin hospital. Cnn's Kareem Khadder, CNN, 21 May 2022 See More
Washington Post, 4 Mar. 2022 During earlier outbreaks, trillions in government assistance helped quickly resuscitate the struggling U.S. and European economies. New York Times, 2 Dec. 2021 First responders attempted to resuscitate him but pronounced him dead at 12:44 p.m. Elliot Hughes, Journal Sentinel, 2 Aug. 2022 Abe arrived at hospital in a state of cardiac arrest and despite a team of medical staff fighting to resuscitate him, the former prime minister died from excessive bleeding caused by gunshot wounds to his neck and heart, doctors said. Mayumi Maruyama, CNN, 9 July 2022 First responders attempted to resuscitate him for 20 minutes before he was pronounced dead, officials said. Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 7 July 2022 Saturday’s closing ceremony brought to a close a Cannes that attempted to fully resuscitate the annual France extravaganza that was canceled in 2020 by the pandemic and saw modest crowds last year. Jake Coyle, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2022 The closing ceremony brings to a close a Cannes that has attempted to fully resuscitate the annual France extravaganza which was canceled in 2020 by the pandemic and saw modest crowds last year. Jake Coyle, ajc, 28 May 2022 Other video showed Palestinian medical crews and paramedics attempting to resuscitate al-Fayed and showed the 18-year-old on a hospital bed at Jenin hospital. Cnn's Kareem Khadder, CNN, 21 May 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin resuscitatus, past participle of resuscitare to reawaken, from re- + suscitare to rouse, from sub-, sus- up + citare to put in motion, stir — more at sub-, cite
First Known Use
1532, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Kids Definition
resuscitate
verb
re·sus·ci·tate ri-ˈsə-sə-ˌtāt
resuscitated; resuscitating
: to bring back from apparent death or unconsciousness
Medical Definition
resuscitate
transitive verb
re·sus·ci·tate ri-ˈsəs-ə-ˌtāt
resuscitated; resuscitating
: to revive from apparent death or from unconsciousness
resuscitate a nearly drowned person by artificial respiration
resuscitating
verb
1
as in restoring
to bring back to a former condition or vigor she hopes to resuscitate the currently defunct charity organization Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- restoring
- reviving
- recreating
- refreshing
- renovating
- repairing
- replenishing
- renewing
- redeveloping
- regenerating
- revitalizing
- revivifying
- freshening
- rejuvenating
- recharging
- refurbishing
- overhauling
- redesigning
- reconstituting
- rehabilitating
- remodeling
- refreshening
- remaking
- reconditioning
- refilling
- reclaiming
- reengineering
- updating
- modernizing
- redoing
- rehabbing
- resupplying
- making over
2
as in reviving
to bring back to life, practice, or activity people trying to resuscitate some old theories that the assassination was really an act of conspiracy Synonyms & Similar Words
- reviving
- resurrecting
- reanimating
- renewing
- revitalizing
- rekindling
- revivifying
- restarting
- rejuvenating
- regenerating
- recharging
- reactivating
- rewaking
- rewakening
- jump-starting
- kick-starting
- reinventing
- refreshing
- refreshening
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- killing
- suppressing
- extinguishing
- quenching