reactivation
noun
re·ac·ti·va·tion (ˌ)rē-ˌak-tə-ˈvā-shən 
plural reactivations
: the act or process of making something active again or becoming active again : the act or process of reactivating or the condition of being reactivated
reactivation of a dormant virus
reactivation of several warships
Examples of reactivation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
And because memories are, essentially, reactivations of specific patterns of sensory and other neural activity, that means that sensory patterns alone can get consolidated as memories. —
Tim Requarth, Longreads, 9 Apr. 2026 Shingles is a reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus that causes chicken pox. —Ashley Milne-Tyte, NPR, 6 Apr. 2026 It’s also known as herpes zoster, and refers to a painful rash caused by the reactivation of the virus that causes chickenpox. —Angela Haupt, Time, 23 Feb. 2026 Other risks include asymmetry, under- and over-correction, infections (very rare), and viral reactivation in those prone to herpes (a prophylactic dose of Valtrex can help prevent it). —Jolene Edgar, Allure, 27 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for reactivation
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.
Tim Requarth, Longreads, 9 Apr. 2026 Shingles is a reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus that causes chicken pox. —Ashley Milne-Tyte, NPR, 6 Apr. 2026 It’s also known as herpes zoster, and refers to a painful rash caused by the reactivation of the virus that causes chickenpox. —Angela Haupt, Time, 23 Feb. 2026 Other risks include asymmetry, under- and over-correction, infections (very rare), and viral reactivation in those prone to herpes (a prophylactic dose of Valtrex can help prevent it). —Jolene Edgar, Allure, 27 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for reactivation
Cite this Entry
“Reactivation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/reactivation. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
reactivation
noun
re·ac·ti·va·tion -ˌak-tə-ˈvā-shən
: the act or process of reactivating or condition of being reactivated
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