rewire

verb

re·​wire (ˌ)rē-ˈwī(-ə)r 

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

Why small home upgrades matter now Big-ticket home projects have gotten expensive, and most people cannot rip out a bathroom or rewire a living room just to make Wednesday feel a little better. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 30 Sep. 2026

The neuroscientist’s guide to improving brain function and rewiring your nervous system to learn new skills and behaviors. — Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026

Red light wearables are quietly rewiring at-home wellness routines, promising glowier skin, faster recovery and less joint stiffness without a clinic visit. — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 28 Sep. 2026

For safety reasons, someone may have rewired an older lamp, reinforced a broken chair rung, or reframed a painting. — Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 24 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for rewire

• briar
• brier
• buyer
• choir
• crier
• cryer
• drier
• dryer
• eyer
• flier
• flyer
• friar