as in performing
to act out a past event; to enact again
The group reenacted a famous American Civil War battle.
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Recent Examples of reenacting
Palm Sunday is celebrated by Christians by reenacting Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem with processions, waving palm branches, and conducting special church services.
—
Julia Gomez, USA Today, 29 Mar. 2026
Every year on the 10th of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar and the same day as the Battle of Karbala, Shiite Muslims inside and outside of Iran observe Ashura and commemorate the slaying of Hussain by reenacting his death and performing self-flagellation, among other rituals.
—Eric Lob, The Conversation, 2 Mar. 2026
Metcalf and Pullman are both wonderful in their shuffling ordinariness, reenacting long-obsolete parental dynamics with a kind of rueful, hopeful denial.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
This year’s ceremony, by contrast, opened with a pair of dancers in angel wings reenacting the neoclassical sculpture Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss, which was created about 100 years before the invention of the lightbulb.
—Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2026
One component of the agreement barred the federal government, for at least eight years, from reenacting immigration policies that systematically separate children and parents.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
What kind of faith is kept alive by reenacting a civil war?
—Ahmed Naji, The Dial, 18 Nov. 2025
TikTok users are sharing their childhood and teenage memories on the platform with #early2000snostalgia — from skits reenacting their high school experiences to throwback videos on popular Y2K items.
—Lucy Maguire, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2025
Each of its first two seasons opens with multiple—some might say too many—episodes reenacting the central crimes with a level of self-aware salaciousness that makes the typical TV-MA docudrama look like children’s programming.
—Judy Berman, Time, 6 Oct. 2025
Julia Gomez, USA Today, 29 Mar. 2026
Every year on the 10th of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar and the same day as the Battle of Karbala, Shiite Muslims inside and outside of Iran observe Ashura and commemorate the slaying of Hussain by reenacting his death and performing self-flagellation, among other rituals.
—Eric Lob, The Conversation, 2 Mar. 2026
Metcalf and Pullman are both wonderful in their shuffling ordinariness, reenacting long-obsolete parental dynamics with a kind of rueful, hopeful denial.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
This year’s ceremony, by contrast, opened with a pair of dancers in angel wings reenacting the neoclassical sculpture Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss, which was created about 100 years before the invention of the lightbulb.
—Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2026
One component of the agreement barred the federal government, for at least eight years, from reenacting immigration policies that systematically separate children and parents.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
What kind of faith is kept alive by reenacting a civil war?
—Ahmed Naji, The Dial, 18 Nov. 2025
TikTok users are sharing their childhood and teenage memories on the platform with #early2000snostalgia — from skits reenacting their high school experiences to throwback videos on popular Y2K items.
—Lucy Maguire, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2025
Each of its first two seasons opens with multiple—some might say too many—episodes reenacting the central crimes with a level of self-aware salaciousness that makes the typical TV-MA docudrama look like children’s programming.
—Judy Berman, Time, 6 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reenacting
Verb
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On Wednesday morning, Coral Springs police discovered Metayer‘s body inside her home while performing a welfare check.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
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Research from Anthropic last month revealed that AI is theoretically capable of performing the majority of tasks in white-collar fields, such as engineering, law, and business and finance.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Police detained a man after executing the search warrant.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The company cited rules against apps executing unreviewed code.—
Sharon Goldman,
Fortune,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
His office is not involved in prosecuting murder cases.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
1 Apr. 2026
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Lebanon has a long history of prosecuting individuals accused of collaborating with Israel, with convictions carrying sentences of up to 25 years.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Nicholson had a security camera screenshot of White committing the burglary on his phone.—
Peter Van Sant,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
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Fully committing to the look, Grande's hair also featured a deep side part and soft baby bangs that barely grazed her forehead.—
Chanel Vargas,
InStyle,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The unions have been negotiating with the district for more than a year over wages, staffing levels and working conditions.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
4 Apr. 2026
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Asian countries’ energy and commodities imports have been strangled, and several are negotiating with Tehran for safe passage — a situation that could quickly become permanent, an academic noted.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Even dramas depicting the city as an inferno of crime and decay added to its legend.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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The movie, like the novel, unfolds in two parts, following the events leading up to the murder, including Meursault’s relationship with Marie (Rebecca Marder) and friendship with Raymond (Pierre Lottin) and then depicting Meursault’s questioning and trial.—
David Faris,
TheWeek,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Reske appears uninterested in fetishizing or recreating his past, and that’s probably for the best.—
David Glickman,
Pitchfork,
27 Mar. 2026
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His reputation for meticulous period work will be central to recreating the world Wong Howe inhabited across more than five decades in Hollywood, from the silent era through the Golden Age of cinema.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reenacting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reenacting. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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