resuscitated; resuscitating
Synonyms of resuscitatenext

transitive verb

: 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
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.
The victim was then transported to a hospital in Canton, where he was resuscitated by the medical team, the Canton City Fire Department confirmed to WKYC. Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 5 Aug. 2026 Efforts to resuscitate her were not successful, and Cora was declared dead. Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026 Once a patient is resuscitated with fluids and blood products at a medical facility, aggressive antibiotic treatment usually follows. Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 29 July 2026 First responders attempted to resuscitate Buitimea, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for resuscitate

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of resuscitate was in 1532

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Cite this Entry

“Resuscitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/resuscitate. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

Kids Definition

resuscitate

verb
resuscitated; resuscitating
1
: to bring back from apparent death or from unconsciousness
2

Medical Definition

resuscitate

transitive verb
resuscitated; resuscitating
: to revive from apparent death or from unconsciousness
resuscitate a nearly drowned person by artificial respiration

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