rewire

verb

re·​wire (ˌ)rē-ˈwī(-ə)r How to pronounce rewire (audio)
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 DeRiggi-Whitton
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
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.
Using artificial intelligence and data on tiny brains grown in the lab, researchers have mapped out the ways in which certain genetic mutations that are associated with autism can rewire the brain and lead to the condition. — Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026 Her grandmother’s crystal chandelier, rewired after years of holding actual candles, now hangs in the primary bedroom, which is tented in dreamy silk shantung. — David Foxley, Architectural Digest, 27 Aug. 2026 In high school and young adulthood, music became a highly informative medium that rewired his brain. — Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 24 Aug. 2026 If a soft interface tweak can rewire traffic in days, imagine what happens when the interface itself is replaced. — Haozhuang Dai, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rewire

Word History

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rewire was in 1881

Rhymes for rewire

See All Rhymes for rewire

Browse Nearby Words

rewirable
rewire
rewood
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rewire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rewire. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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