What does regenerate mean?
Regenerate means to create, renew, or restore something so that it becomes active, healthy, or effective again. The word is especially common in discussions of nature, cities, economies, communities, and personal or physical recovery. For example, wetlands regenerate water quality, a city may regenerate an abandoned industrial area, and an organization may regenerate interest in a neglected subject. As a verb, regenerate can be transitive, taking the thing being renewed, or intransitive, describing the process of renewal: damaged tissue regenerates, and old neighborhoods regenerate over time. The word carries a strongly positive implication of renewal and improvement, although it does not always imply that the result is entirely new. Its related adjective form, regenerative, is used especially for processes that restore or renew, such as regenerative medicine and regenerative farming.
To create, produce, or restore something again in a renewed or improved form.
"The program aims to regenerate the river and restore local habitats."
Can be transitive or intransitive; common in environmental, economic, urban, and institutional contexts.
Renewed, restored, or reborn, especially after decline or damage.
"The team entered the match with a renewed sense of purpose."
Less common than the verb; often used in religious or metaphorical contexts.
Regenerate comes from the same Latin root as generate: to bring forth, produce, or create anew.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
Related word forms
How regenerate is actually used
Regenerate is commonly used for natural renewal, urban or economic renewal, and the recovery of an injured or depleted area. In religious contexts, it can mean to be spiritually renewed or reborn.
Easily confused with regenerate
As a verb, regenerate means to create or restore something anew; as an adjective, it describes something that has been renewed or restored.
Regenerate focuses on creating or restoring something, while rejuvenate more often means to make someone or something seem or feel younger or fresher.