reactivate

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "reactivate" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to "making something active again" or "restoring to an active state". For example, "The company decided to reactivate the dormant account."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This evening, in a second setback to Mr Trimble's leadership, his party demanded that any attempt to reactivate the power-sharing executive should be linked to the retention of the name and symbols of the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

The Guardian

The biggest distortion, they argued, came from the rich world's ultra-loose policies, particularly the expectation that America's Federal Reserve would soon reactivate a policy of "quantitative easing" (printing money to buy government bonds).

The Economist

He lectured them about the imminent demise of capitalism, but then proceeded to offer them cheap credit and joint ventures to "reactivate" production.That such efforts are needed is at first sight odd.

The Economist

One scheme is to reactivate the wealth tax that has been lying dormant (but not repealed) since the Constitutional Court objected to it a few years ago.

The Economist

Experiments on mice suggest that the new drugs reactivate these pathways and restore the tumour cells' sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents.

The Economist

Opposition leaders hope that with his departure the government will introduce measures to create jobs and reactivate the moribund economy.

The Economist

PC makers may hide Microsoft's middleware, but they are not allowed to remove the code that makes it easy to reactivate the software.

The Economist

It is certainly conceivable that EU enlargement could reactivate strategic rivalry with the former superpower.

The Economist

He could reactivate foreign aid by carrying out democratic reforms.

The Economist

"What we are trying to do," says its chairman, Ronald Cohen of Apax Partners, "is to reactivate market forces".It is easy to dismiss such micro-initiatives as tinkering.

The Economist

It expelled UN and American nuclear inspectors and said it would take steps to reactivate its partially dismantled nuclear facilities at Yongbyon.Anti-government protesters in Thailand forced the cancellation of the ASEAN and East Asia summits being held in Pattaya.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "reactivate", ensure the context clearly indicates what was previously active but is now being restored to that state. This helps avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "reactivate" for things that are inherently and continuously active. For example, saying "reactivate the sun" doesn't make sense because the sun is always active.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "reactivate" is as a transitive verb, meaning it requires a direct object. It signifies the act of making something active again. As Ludwig AI confirms, the term is grammatically correct and usable in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Encyclopedias

15%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the word "reactivate" functions as a transitive verb that describes restoring something to a previous state of activity or functionality. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used in various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Encyclopedias. While generally neutral in tone, "reactivate" is best used when describing something that was previously active and is now being restored. Related terms include "restore", "revive", and "resume", each carrying slightly different nuances. Avoid using "reactivate" for things that are inherently continuously active.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Reactivate

Implies making something active again.

Restore

Focuses on returning something to its original condition or state.

Revive

Suggests bringing something back to life or consciousness.

Reinitiate

Highlights starting something again, often after a delay or pause.

Re-establish

Emphasizes the rebuilding or re-institution of something.

Resume

Indicates the continuation of something after an interruption.

Recommence

A formal synonym for resume, indicating a renewed beginning.

Reopen

Specifically refers to opening something again, such as a case or a business.

Bring back

A more informal way to express returning something to a previous state.

Kick-start

Implies initiating or boosting something that has stalled or weakened.

FAQs

How can I use "reactivate" in a sentence?

You can use "reactivate" to describe restoring something to a functional state, such as "The company decided to reactivate the old project".

What are some alternatives to the word "reactivate"?

Alternatives include "restore", "revive", or "resume", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "reactivate again"?

While not grammatically incorrect, saying "reactivate again" can be redundant since "reactivate" already implies doing something again. It's usually better to simply use "reactivate".

What's the difference between "reactivate" and "revitalize"?

"Reactivate" suggests returning something to a previous state of activity, while "revitalize" implies giving something new energy or vigor. The former is about restoration, the latter about improvement.