What does "rebuilding" mean?

1. (physical reconstruction) the act of building a house, bridge, or city again after it was destroyed. 2. (metaphorical improvement) the process of making something like a team, a friendship, or a reputation strong again.

How do you use "rebuilding"?

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

rebuilding

US //ɹiˈbɪɫdɪŋ// UK //ɹɪbˈɪldɪŋ// re·build·ing

1 physical reconstruction (n.)
B1 Intermediate

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

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

Example

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

Example

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.
- destruction
- demolition
2 metaphorical improvement (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

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

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

Example

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

Example

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

Teacher's tip

Commonly used in sports contexts when a team is replacing older players with younger ones.
- recovery
- renewal
- reorganisation
- collapse
- decline

Last updated June 20, 2026