reentry

noun

re·​en·​try (ˌ)rē-ˈen-trē 

1

: a retaking possession

especially : entry by a lessor on leased premises on the tenant's failure to perform the conditions of the lease

2

: a second or new entry

3

: a playing card that will enable a player to regain the lead

4

: the action of reentering the earth's atmosphere after travel in space

Examples of reentry in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Context: San Francisco has held a unique role in helping establish the birthright citizenship clause thanks to native Wong Kim Ark, a Chinese-American man who was denied reentry into the U.S. in 1895 after visiting family in China. —Nadia Lopez, Axios, 21 Jan. 2025

Those savings were distributed to counties for prisoner reentry and victim support — the same programs now on the chopping block. —Anabel Sosa, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2025

The third Starship test flight last March saw the spacecraft reach its planned trajectory and fly halfway around the world before succumbing to the scorching heat of atmospheric reentry. —Ars Technica, 17 Jan. 2025

The mission was planning to test new materials and design changes to enhance the spacecraft's heat resistance during reentry. —Matthew Glasser, ABC News, 16 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

reentry

noun

re·​en·​try (ˈ)rē-ˈen-trē 

1

: a second or new entry

2

: the action of reentering the earth's atmosphere after travel in space

Medical Definition

reentry

noun

re·​en·​try (ˈ)rē-ˈen-trē 

plural reentries

: a cardiac mechanism that is held to explain certain abnormal heart actions (as tachycardia) and that involves the transmission of a wave of depolarization along an alternate pathway when the original pathway is blocked with return of the impulse along the blocked pathway when the alternate pathway is refractory and then transmission along the open pathway resulting in an abnormality

Legal Definition

reentry

noun

re·​en·​try ˌrē-ˈen-trē 

: a retaking possession of property by a lessor or grantor in exercise of the right to do so upon the failure of the lessee or grantee to fulfill a covenant or condition see also power of termination at power sense 2b