reattach

verb

re·​at·​tach (ˌ)rē-ə-ˈtach How to pronounce reattach (audio)
reattached; reattaching; reattaches
Synonyms of reattachnext
1
transitive : to attach (something) again
reattach the hoses
reattaching the retina to underlying tissue
2
intransitive : to become attached anew
The dentist will probably bond that tooth to the adjacent teeth for a number of weeks until it reattaches.—The Explorer (Tucson, Arizona)
reattachment
(ˌ)rē-ə-ˈtach-mənt How to pronounce reattach (audio)
noun
plural reattachments
reattachment of a severed finger
reattachment surgery
Modern treatment for detached retina may include reattachment of the retina with a laser (like spot-welding) or freezing small areas (cryotherapy). —Richard P. Holm

Examples of reattach in a Sentence

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.
Surgeons were unable to reattach them. — Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026 Turn your lawnmower upright and reattach the spark plug or battery. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 8 June 2026 Surgeons were able to successfully reattach her hand following the attack. — Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 6 Apr. 2026 Five and a half hours after beginning the spacewalk, Williams and Meir were able to reattach the LEE cluster as planned. — William Harwood, CBS News, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for reattach

Word History

First Known Use

1751, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of reattach was in 1751

Rhymes for reattach

See All Rhymes for reattach

Browse Nearby Words

reata
reattach
reattachment
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Reattach.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reattach. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Medical Definition

reattach

intransitive verb
re·​at·​tach ˌrē-ə-ˈtach How to pronounce reattach (audio)
: to become attached anew

transitive verb

: to attach again
reattach a severed finger
reattachment
-mənt How to pronounce reattach (audio)
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on reattach

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for reattach

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