restore to normal health or function

rehabilitate

verb|/ˌriː.əˈbɪl.ɪ.teɪt/

To restore to health, normal functioning, or good condition

Examples

In a meeting

Physical therapy will rehabilitate her shoulder mobility after the injury.

Over coffee

It took months to rehabilitate my knee after that accident.

Why this word

restore

rehabilitate specifically means returning someone to health or normal function through therapy, restore is general

recover

rehabilitate involves active treatment to regain abilities, recover can be passive healing

heal

rehabilitate emphasizes structured restoration of function, heal focuses on physical mending

Usage tip

Use for recovery processes involving structured treatment or therapy. Implies active restoration efforts.

Etymology

Latin: re- (again) + habilis (able, fit)

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