Word
rehabilitate
Phoneticsre·ha·bil·i·tate, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌɹiəˈbɪɫəˌteɪt/
UK/ɹɪhəbˈɪlɪtˌeɪt/
Definition
v. to help someone who has been in prison or is sick to get back to normal life. It can also mean to repair something that was broken or damaged.
v. to restore someone to a normal life after imprisonment or illness; to repair or restore something to a former condition. Transitive — requires a direct object.
Examples
“The government is working to rehabilitate former prisoners.”
“The hospital provides a comprehensive program to rehabilitate patients who have suffered serious injuries to their legs.”
“The architect's goal was to rehabilitate the historic building without removing its original features, ensuring the structure remained a cultural landmark for future generations.”
Examples
simple
“The government is working to rehabilitate former prisoners.”
contextual
“The hospital provides a comprehensive program to rehabilitate patients who have suffered serious injuries to their legs.”
complex
“The architect's goal was to rehabilitate the historic building without removing its original features, ensuring the structure remained a cultural landmark for future generations.”
Real-World Examples
“Photograph: Mercedes Ortuno/EPA He has since tried to rehabilitate his image, taking out a full-page advert in the Wall Street Journal apologising for his antisemitic behaviour and discussing his struggles with mental health.” “But 1% of criminals were responsible for a large amount of crime, and protecting the public took precedence over rehabilitating them.” Etymology
Learned borrowing from Medieval Latin rehabilitātus, perfect passive participle of Latin rehabilitō. See habilitate.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990EikenEikenTest in Practical English ProficiencyThe English proficiency test from the Eiken Foundation of Japan, widely taken by Japanese students. Grades run from 5 to 1, with Pre-1 and Pre-2 between them.Grade 1
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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