re·boot
(ˌ)rē-ˈbüt 
rebooted; rebooting; reboots
1
a
transitive + intransitive
: to shut down and restart (a computer or program)
… the annoyance of having to reboot the computer to switch operating systems …—
Robert Weston
Robert WestonIf anything ever happens to the original drive, you can reboot using the cloned drive and be up and running in minutes.—Dan Frakes
Dan Frakes
b
intransitive
: to start up again after closing or shutting down : to boot up again
waiting for a computer/program to reboot
2
a
transitive
: to start (something) anew : to refresh (something) by making a new start or creating a new version
reboot an old TV series
… decided to reboot the idea as a tribute concert.—Matt Wake
Matt WakeIt's probably not an overstatement to say Sandberg is embarking on the most ambitious mission to reboot feminism and reframe discussions of gender since the launch of Ms. magazine in 1971.—Belinda Luscombe
Belinda Luscombe
b
intransitive
: to start anew : to make a fresh start
The interior designer's heart was telling her to reboot and downsize …—Susan Heeger
Susan Heeger
plural reboots
1
: the act or an instance of shutting down and restarting something (such as a computer or program)
In a few cases, errors cause a headlong exit to DOS or the software ceases to operate, requiring a reboot.—George F. Hepner
George F. Hepner2
: the act or an instance of starting (something) anew or making a fresh start
In a massive reboot last fall, all 200 rooms were done up in geometric rugs and curvy leather headboards.—Jen Murphy
Jen MurphyExamples of reboot in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Dec. 2025
Anaconda stars Black and Rudd alongside Steve Zahn and Thandiwe Newton as a group of amateur filmmakers traveling to the Amazon jungle to reboot the original movie.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025
Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 28 Dec. 2025
With the Exorcist franchise releasing six installments over the years, as well as a 2016-’17 Fox series, Scarlett Johansson has signed on for the upcoming reboot from writer/director Mike Flanagan and Blumhouse-Atomic Monster.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 27 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reboot
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Verb
Despite a promise of more to come as Superman, plans for Cavill to return to the character were scrapped after James Gunn and Peter Safran rebooted the onscreen DC Universe.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Dec. 2025
Anaconda stars Black and Rudd alongside Steve Zahn and Thandiwe Newton as a group of amateur filmmakers traveling to the Amazon jungle to reboot the original movie.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025
Noun
The show is a reboot to the original 1984 sitcom of the same name.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 28 Dec. 2025
With the Exorcist franchise releasing six installments over the years, as well as a 2016-’17 Fox series, Scarlett Johansson has signed on for the upcoming reboot from writer/director Mike Flanagan and Blumhouse-Atomic Monster.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 27 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reboot
Cite this Entry
“Reboot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reboot. Accessed 31 Dec. 2025.
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