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reenact

/ˌˈri əˌnækt/
/riəˈnækt/
IPA guide

Other forms: reenacted; reenacting; reenacts

To reenact something is to authorize it again, or to act something out, like a war. Sometimes grown people dress as Confederate or Union soldiers to reenact the American Civil War. Big bushy 1860s beards and all.

Legislators might work to reenact a law that has expired. You can also reenact something by performing or acting it out, the way you'd reenact the battle of Yorktown with your friends playing the roles of British and Continental Army soldiers. People who are involved in historical reenactment reenact such battles with great enthusiasm and authentic costumes and props. The legal meaning came first, from the "decree, sanction, or establish" meaning of enact and the "again" prefix, re-.

Definitions of reenact
  1. verb
    enact again
    “Congress reenacted the law”
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    type of:
    enact, ordain
    order by virtue of superior authority; decree
  2. verb
    enact or perform again
    “They reenacted the battle of Princeton”
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    type of:
    re-create
    create anew
  3. verb
    act out; represent or perform as if in a play
    “She reenacted what had happened earlier that day”
    synonyms: act out, enact
    see moresee less
    type of:
    act, play, represent
    play a role or part
Pronunciation
US
/ˌˈri əˌnækt/
UK
/riəˈnækt/
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘reenact'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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