# reconnect

/ɹikəˈnɛkt/ (US) · /ɹˌiːkənˈɛkt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/reconnect
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. physical or technical link

verb · CEFR B1

to join two things together again, especially a piece of equipment or a service like the internet.

For teachers: to restore a physical or electronic connection between two components or a service provider and a client.

- I had to reconnect the router to the wall after the power cut.
- The technician managed to reconnect the server to the main network after identifying the faulty cable in the basement.

Usage: Can be used transitively with an object or intransitively when a device connects automatically.

### 2. social relationship

verb · CEFR B2

to meet or speak with someone again after a long time apart.

For teachers: to re-establish a social or emotional relationship with a person or group after a period of estrangement or lack of contact.

- Social media helped her reconnect with her old friends from primary school.
- After working abroad for a decade, he returned to his hometown to reconnect with his extended family and childhood community.

Usage: Typically takes the preposition 'with' when referring to the person being contacted.

## Examples

- I want to reconnect with my old school friends.
- After the storm damaged the power lines, it took the engineers three days to reconnect the entire neighborhood to the grid.
- The documentary explores how displaced families attempt to reconnect with their cultural heritage through traditional music and storytelling after decades of living in foreign urban environments.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.
