rehab
rehab Lexical Profile
rehab Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A course of medical or psychological treatment and therapy designed to help someone overcome an addiction to drugs or alcohol, or to recover from an injury or illness.
"After tearing his ACL, the athlete spent six months in intensive physical rehab."
A specialized medical clinic, residential center, or facility where patients receive treatment for substance addiction or physical recovery.
"He checked himself into a private rehab in California to address his substance abuse."
American The process of renovating and restoring an old or rundown building to good condition, or a building that has undergone such restoration.
"The young couple bought a historic brownstone that needed a complete gut rehab."
• verb
To restore someone or an injured body part to health or normal physical function through therapy and exercise, or to undergo such treatment.
"The pitcher is currently in Florida to rehab his injured shoulder before spring training."
American To renovate, repair, and restore a dilapidated building or property to a livable or usable condition.
"They plan to rehab the abandoned warehouse and convert it into affordable loft apartments."
Word Nuance & Usage
While 'rehab' is a standard informal clipping of 'rehabilitation' or 'rehabilitate', in everyday speech without context ('going to rehab') it almost exclusively implies residential treatment for drug or alcohol addiction.
• Rhymes for rehab
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the mid-20th century as an informal clipping of 'rehabilitation' and 'rehabilitate', which derive from Medieval Latin rehabilitare ('to restore to a former capacity').
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.