resurrect
Americanverb (used with object)
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to raise from the dead; bring to life again.
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to bring back into use, practice, etc..
to resurrect an ancient custom.
verb (used without object)
verb
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to rise or raise from the dead; bring or be brought back to life
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(tr) to bring back into use or activity; revive
to resurrect an ancient law
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(tr) to renew (one's hopes, etc)
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facetious (tr) (formerly) to exhume and steal (a body) from its grave, esp in order to sell it
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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resurrectsimple
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resurrectssimple
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have resurrectedperfect
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has resurrectedperfect
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are resurrectingprogressive
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am resurrectingprogressive
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is resurrectingprogressive
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have been resurrectingperfect progressive
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has been resurrectingperfect progressive
Past
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resurrectedsimple
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had resurrectedperfect
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was resurrectingprogressive
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were resurrectingprogressive
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had been resurrectingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of resurrect
First recorded in 1765–75; back formation from resurrection
Explanation
To resurrect is to bring someone back from the dead. You can also resurrect things that are inactive or out of use. If you've ever seen someone bring a dead person back to life in a science fiction or fantasy movie, you saw them resurrect someone. Turning someone into a zombie or vampire is a type of resurrecting, and in the Bible Jesus resurrects Lazurus. Also, this word can apply to any kind of revival. A song can resurrect faded memories. A forgotten project can be resurrected if you start it up again. Resurrecting always involves bringing something back to life.
Vocabulary lists containing resurrect
The Roman and Byzantine Empires, Lessons 1–2
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for September 11–September 17, 2021
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Some will say that it’s unrealistic to resurrect USAID, that it is never coming back, and that we need to adjust to the new reality.
From Slate • Apr. 23, 2026
The military’s orders have left Groton with a high-stakes challenge: how to resurrect a bygone era of military might in a far-flung seaside town short on workers, homes and transit.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026
So the film-makers have used AI to resurrect him - with the blessing of his family - and have now revealed the results in the first trailer.
From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026
Fortunately, thus far, many of these videos, whether they exploit the living, resurrect the dead or just make stuff up are … less than convincing.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026
The entire animal kingdom was beyond her scope; apparently she could resurrect only the cute dead.
From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
