resuscitation

noun

re·​sus·​ci·​ta·​tion ri-ˌsə-sə-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce resuscitation (audio)
ˌrē-
plural resuscitations
: an act or process of resuscitating someone or something:
a
medical : the act or an instance of reviving someone from apparent death or from unconsciousness
The EMS response times were generally fast in both groups, but successful prehospital resuscitations were not associated with significantly shorter response times than those reported in cases of refractory cardiac arrest.Arthur L. Kellermann et al.
resuscitation techniques differ from other procedures in medicine in that they are usually performed only in critical situations, and thus the opportunities to learn and practice them are inherently limited.Jeffrey P. Burns et al.
see also cardiopulmonary resuscitation
b
: the act or an instance of restoring someone or something to an active or flourishing state
Punk may not be dead, but it certainly could use some resuscitation. And that's where Anthrax comes in.Craig Tomashoff
His resuscitation is evident in the 1982 reissue of his autobiography, "An Artist in America."Grace Glueck

Examples of resuscitation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Unlike similar efforts in the past, the training wasn’t centered around chest compressions or mouth-to-mouth resuscitation but on how to save someone from an opioid overdose. Isha Trivedi, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024 When a rescue boat arrived and pulled her out, despite an hour of resuscitation efforts, she was pronounced dead from drowning. Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 28 Feb. 2024 Multiple team members took turns providing CPR and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation before EMS and fire department personnel arrived. Al Gaspeny, arkansasonline.com, 2 Feb. 2024 Chest compressions, delivering air to the lungs (see sidebar), or applying electric shock to the heart also were recommended alongside rectal fumigation — techniques remarkably close to our modern resuscitation procedures. Emily McCrary-Ruiz-Esparza, Discover Magazine, 9 Oct. 2023 Anderson presents the crux of Hunter's case: that Cayley's bruising was caused in part by resuscitation efforts at the hospital, and the organ donation process. Peter Van Sant, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2024 Deputies and medical staff members from the Arlington County Sheriff’s Office started resuscitation efforts until Arlington County medics arrived. Omari Daniels, Washington Post, 12 Dec. 2023 Luna Luna’s resuscitation became a reality in 2022, when Drake’s entertainment firm DreamCrew acquired the Luna Luna assets for an undisclosed sum from the philanthropic Stephen and Mary Birch Foundation. Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 1 Dec. 2023 Arnold’s girlfriend started CPR, but the resuscitation lasted 90 minutes and required nine defibrillator shocks. Theresa Tamkins, NBC News, 7 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'resuscitation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of resuscitation was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near resuscitation

Cite this Entry

“Resuscitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/resuscitation. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

resuscitation

noun
re·​sus·​ci·​ta·​tion
ri-ˌsəs-ə-ˈtā-shən
: an act or procedure that attempts to resuscitate
also : the state of being resuscitated compare cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Medical Definition

resuscitation

noun
re·​sus·​ci·​ta·​tion ri-ˌsəs-ə-ˈtā-shən, rē- How to pronounce resuscitation (audio)
: an act of resuscitating or the state of being resuscitated
resuscitation by means of artificial respiration or cardiac massage
see cardiopulmonary resuscitation

More from Merriam-Webster on resuscitation

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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