resuscitate
verb
re·sus·ci·tate
ri-ˈsə-sə-ˌtāt 
resuscitated; resuscitating
: to revive from apparent death or from unconsciousness
also
: revitalize
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.
Examples of resuscitate in a Sentence
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
Lofton was later resuscitated but never regained consciousness.
—
Laura Bauer
july 12, Kansas City Star, 12 July 2025
Paramedics tried to resuscitate Sarah and then rushed her to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead about 30 minutes after arriving.
—Kevin Grasha, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
Staff tried to resuscitate him and called 911, but less than an hour later, he was pronounced dead by Miami Fire Rescue Department.
—Syra Ortiz Blanes, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 June 2025
Spend big and spend creatively Long before the Dodgers landed Ohtani, Walter engaged in shock-and-awe spending to resuscitate a club that had fallen into bankruptcy and disrepair.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for resuscitate
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.
Laura Bauer
july 12, Kansas City Star, 12 July 2025
Paramedics tried to resuscitate Sarah and then rushed her to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead about 30 minutes after arriving.
—Kevin Grasha, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
Staff tried to resuscitate him and called 911, but less than an hour later, he was pronounced dead by Miami Fire Rescue Department.
—Syra Ortiz Blanes, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 June 2025
Spend big and spend creatively Long before the Dodgers landed Ohtani, Walter engaged in shock-and-awe spending to resuscitate a club that had fallen into bankruptcy and disrepair.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for resuscitate
Cite this Entry
“Resuscitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/resuscitate. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
resuscitate
verb
re·sus·ci·tate
ri-ˈsəs-ə-ˌtāt
resuscitated; resuscitating
1
: to bring back from apparent death or from unconsciousness
2
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share