rearm

verb

re·​arm (ˌ)rē-ˈärm How to pronounce rearm (audio)
rearmed; rearming; rearms

transitive verb

: to arm (a nation, a military force, etc.) again with new or better weapons

intransitive verb

: to become armed again

Examples of rearm in a Sentence

The treaty forbids the country to rearm. Another country was rearming their enemies.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Without this supply corridor, rearming Hezbollah becomes extremely complicated if not impossible. Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024 Right now, cease-fire negotiations still have significant points of contention related to upholding Lebanese sovereignty while ensuring that Hezbollah does not rearm. Maha Yahya, Foreign Affairs, 20 Nov. 2024 Zelensky said his military needs to be able to hit Russian planes where they are housed and get rearmed with new missiles. Rachel Pannett, Washington Post, 9 July 2024 Then, in 2017, FARC dissident factions, led by former FARC members who either never demobilized or rearmed, began to appear. Elizabeth Dickinson, Foreign Affairs, 1 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for rearm 

Word History

First Known Use

1750, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of rearm was in 1750

Dictionary Entries Near rearm

Cite this Entry

“Rearm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rearm. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

rearm

verb
re·​arm (ˈ)rē-ˈärm How to pronounce rearm (audio)
: to arm again with new or better weapons
rearmament noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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