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
Chili’s created a questionable ad campaign to resuscitate the brand.
—
Meghan McCarron Phil Donohue, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025
Someone called 911, but medical professionals weren’t able to resuscitate him.
—Jen Murphy, Outside Online, 2 Apr. 2025
Massachusetts State Police Recruit Dies After Boxing Training Exercise: 'Beloved Member of His Class'
Olanrewaju was then taken to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, according to the Ghana Boxing Authority, and despite efforts to resuscitate him, he was pronounced dead soon after.
—Rachel Raposas, People.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Despite attempts to resuscitate her, Dowells was pronounced dead on the scene around 2:50 a.m.
The circumstances surrounding her death had been mostly unclear until earlier this week, when the Amador County Coroner confirmed Dowells was strangled and ruled her death a homicide.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for resuscitate
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Meghan McCarron Phil Donohue, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025
Someone called 911, but medical professionals weren’t able to resuscitate him.
—Jen Murphy, Outside Online, 2 Apr. 2025
Massachusetts State Police Recruit Dies After Boxing Training Exercise: 'Beloved Member of His Class'
Olanrewaju was then taken to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, according to the Ghana Boxing Authority, and despite efforts to resuscitate him, he was pronounced dead soon after.
—Rachel Raposas, People.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Despite attempts to resuscitate her, Dowells was pronounced dead on the scene around 2:50 a.m.
The circumstances surrounding her death had been mostly unclear until earlier this week, when the Amador County Coroner confirmed Dowells was strangled and ruled her death a homicide.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 20 Mar. 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 18 Apr. 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
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