rewire

verb

re·​wire (ˌ)rē-ˈwī(-ə)r 

rewired; rewiring

transitive verb

1

: to provide or connect (something) with wire again

especially : to replace the electrical wiring of (something, such as a building or electronic device)

rewired the house

rewire a circuit board

2

: to make lasting and usually beneficial changes to the neurological or psychological functioning of (a person or brain)

—not used technically

The injured brain, moreover, can rewire itself.

—Joan Didion

Not only do studies show that meditation is boosting their immune system, but brain scans suggest that it may be rewiring their brains to reduce stress.

—Joel Stein

… nearly nine out of 10 adult smokers started smoking by age 18; nicotine can rewire youths' brains, making heroin and other opioids even more addictive.

—Delia DeRiggiWhitton

Can you rewire yourself? I went back through pivotal points in my life, when one should be happy.

—Kim Korson

Examples of rewire in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Platforms engineered to capture our attention also rewire our stress response: constant notifications, doom-scrolling, and the pressure to curate an online identity all heighten chronic stress, reduce real-world coping mechanisms, and reinforce avoidance behaviors. —Dale Whelehan, TIME, 14 Feb. 2025

When heading out to look for lamps, take a lightbulb along to test them in-store, but also consider rewiring nonfunctional pieces. —Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 4 Jan. 2025

Known as neural plasticity, this is where the brain adapts and rewires itself in response to intensive stimulation. —Harrison Monarth, Forbes, 25 Dec. 2024

The simple act of walking can rewire trauma's hold on our nervous systems. —Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined at sense 1