# regenerate

/ɹiˈdʒɛnɝˌeɪt/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 1. to grow back tissue

verb · CEFR B2 · Technical

to grow new skin, bone, or body parts to replace ones that were lost or hurt.

For teachers: to replace lost or damaged tissue through natural biological processes. Often used as an intransitive verb when referring to the organism's capability.

- Some lizards can regenerate their tails if they are caught by a predator.
- Stem cell research aims to discover how human organs might be induced to regenerate after significant trauma or disease.

### 2. to improve a place or system

verb · CEFR B2

to make a place, like a city or a business, strong and successful again.

For teachers: to revitalize or reconstruct an area, economy, or institution, typically following a period of decline.

- The government plans to regenerate the old docklands by building new apartments and offices.
- The council's primary objective was to regenerate the manufacturing sector, which had suffered decades of underinvestment and job losses.

### 3. spiritual rebirth

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to experience a deep change in your soul or character to become a better person.

For teachers: to undergo a spiritual or moral rebirth. Often used in religious contexts to describe a fundamental internal transformation.

- He felt like a new man, as if his spirit had been completely regenerated.
- The preacher spoke of the power of faith to regenerate even the most hardened hearts through divine grace.

### 4. spiritually reborn

adjective · CEFR C2 · Formal · Archaic

having been changed in a spiritual way to become a better person.

For teachers: having been spiritually reborn or restored to a better state. This form is non-gradable and typically appears in formal or theological writing.

- The community welcomed the regenerate man back into their circle.
- In his later essays, the author explores the perspective of a regenerate soul viewing the world with newfound clarity.

## Examples

- The lizard can regenerate its tail if it gets caught.
- The local council launched a massive project to regenerate the old industrial district into a tech hub.
- Stem cell research focuses on the body's innate ability to regenerate damaged organs, potentially offering cures for conditions previously considered irreversible.

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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.