reboot

1 of 2

verb

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

If anything ever happens to the original drive, you can reboot using the cloned drive and be up and running in minutes.

—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

It'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

reboot an old TV series

b

intransitive : to start anew : to make a fresh start

The interior designer's heart was telling her to reboot and downsize …

—Susan Heeger

reboot

2 of 2

noun

re·​boot ˈrē-ˌbüt 

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

2

: 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

Examples of reboot in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Share Rare Family Photos from Thanksgiving Trip to Australia News first broke that Sony was rebooting the series in February 2023. —Tommy McArdle, People.com, 5 Dec. 2024

Why not go straight to Gunn’s Superman film, and save the quirky obscurities until after the brand has been more properly rebooted. —Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 4 Dec. 2024

Noun

With the news, this is the third broadcast network series from the early 2000s to get some kind of reboot or revival news in the past week. —Joe Otterson, Variety, 13 Dec. 2024

It was recently confirmed that Vanderpump Rules would be getting a reboot for Season 12, and cameras would follow a new cast working at Lisa Vanderpump’s restaurants. —Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 12 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1971, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1980, in the meaning defined at sense 1