English Reference

Word

rebuilding

Phoneticsre·build·ing

US/ɹiˈbɪɫdɪŋ/

UK/ɹɪbˈɪldɪŋ/

Definitions

01physical reconstruction

B1

n. the act of building a house, bridge, or city again after it was destroyed.

n. the physical reconstruction of a structure or area following damage or demolition.

“The rebuilding of the city took many years after the earthquake.”

“Following the devastating floods, the government prioritised the rebuilding of essential infrastructure to restore transport links to the isolated northern provinces.”

Usage

often used as an uncountable noun when referring to the general process.

02metaphorical improvement

B2

n. the process of making something like a team, a friendship, or a reputation strong again.

n. the metaphorical restoration or systematic improvement of an abstract concept, such as a sports team, a personal relationship, or an economy.

“The coach said the team is in a period of rebuilding this season.”

“The new CEO embarked on a complete rebuilding of the company's public image after the recent scandal damaged consumer trust.”

Teaching tip

Commonly used in sports contexts when a team is replacing older players with younger ones.

Synonyms

recoveryrenewalreorganisation

Antonyms

This entry

Level
B1 · Intermediate
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference