rewild
verb
re·wild
(ˌ)rē-ˈwī(-ə)ld 
rewilded; rewilding; rewilds
1
transitive + intransitive
: to return to a more natural or wild state : to make or become natural or wild again
Are there garden beds, growing containers or areas under shrubs and trees where you can leave things a little less tidy? If you are able, rewild these places to support hundreds of native pollinators.—
Kara Carleton
Kara Carleton[George] Monbiot's thesis is that to halt and reverse climate change and the global extinction crisis, we must drastically reduce the amount of land we farm, and rewild it with forests and wetlands.—Philippa Jamieson
Philippa JamiesonIt overlooks what was once part of a golf course, although you would never guess, given how quickly the land has rewilded.—Adam McCulloch
Adam McCulloch
specifically
: to increase biodiversity and restore the natural processes of an ecosystem typically by reducing or ceasing human activity and reintroducing plant and animal species
The reintroduction of jaguars to Iber is part of a larger effort to restore—or rewild—ecosystems in Argentina and Chile. —Elizabeth Alberts
Elizabeth Alberts 2
transitive
: to return (an animal) to the wild
… efforts to conserve, breed, and rewild bison on tribal lands …—Kelly Goles
Kelly GolesIn a first in the state, the Tamil Nadu forest department is all set to rewild a tiger cub at Monombolly forest range …—Times of India
Times of IndiaExamples of rewild in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Zambian reserve rewilds captive lions Two lions born in captivity are preparing for life in the wild on the vast Lolelunga Private Reserve in Zambia.
—Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 18 May 2026
And so even though the lodge just opened, the Conservancy has been working with multiple NGOs to rewild the conservancy from a ranch.
—AFAR Media, 15 May 2026
Best of all are turtle release dates, when staff doctors deem a turtle healthy enough to rewild—the community comes to the beach to see it off, joyful and even tearful as the turtle ambles into waves and disappears beneath them.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 May 2026
Cuyahoga Valley’s rangers and volunteers have restored and continue to rewild a region once ravaged by industry.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rewild
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Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 18 May 2026
And so even though the lodge just opened, the Conservancy has been working with multiple NGOs to rewild the conservancy from a ranch.
—AFAR Media, 15 May 2026
Best of all are turtle release dates, when staff doctors deem a turtle healthy enough to rewild—the community comes to the beach to see it off, joyful and even tearful as the turtle ambles into waves and disappears beneath them.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 May 2026
Cuyahoga Valley’s rangers and volunteers have restored and continue to rewild a region once ravaged by industry.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rewild
Cite this Entry
“Rewild.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rewild. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.
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