re·spawn
(ˌ)rē-ˈspȯn
-ˈspän
respawned; respawning; respawns
: to spawn again:
a
transitive + intransitive
video games
: to make or become active again : regenerate
… enemies respawn infinitely, so running away isn't an option …—Elie Gould
Players who happen to die during combat will lose a portion of their in-game currency and will respawn at the last shrine they came in contact with.—Eugene Sowah
You'll occasionally find yourself shunted off the road or rammed into a building by a rival you didn't know was there. When this does happen, the game has a nasty knack of respawning your car in suboptimal situations.—Eric Wittmershaus
Once you've pulled the enemies off the bridge, you can then head back to the Meditation Point and rest to respawn the enemies, which starts the whole cycle over again.—Whitney Meers
b(1)
intransitive
: to deposit or fertilize spawn (see spawn entry 2 sense 1) for a second time within a mating cycle
Since bass populations are able to survive such natural catastrophes (though they often do so by respawning) it stands to reason that some angling of spawning fish shouldn't have a negative impact on healthy fisheries …—Mark Taylor
(2)
transitive
: to induce (fish) to spawn for a second time within a mating cycle
… the minnow can be respawned with human help and by surviving minnows in the state's lakes.—Craig A. Butler
respawner
noun
plural respawners
Scientists also hope to learn … what happens to steelhead populations when the number of respawners declines …
—Bill Monroe
plural respawns
video games
: an opportunity to revive one's avatar (see avatar sense 1) for continued play : an opportunity to respawn
Because resources and respawns can be limited, each raid attempt carries real risk.—Renz Soliman
There are no respawns until the next round and between rounds, you buy guns and equipment with money you earn from kills and winning.—Zach Zwiezen
—often used before another nounBeds are used as respawn points [=locations where an avatar respawns] if you die, so if you're off on a long journey, it's worth placing a bed or two along the way so you're not right back to square one if you meet a sticky end.—Ian Craig
Cite this Entry
“Respawn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/respawn. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.
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