WordGarden.ioreassert
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /rˌiːəsˈɜːt/
US
- /ˌriəˈsɜrt/
Meanings
Verb
to state or insist again that something is true
to regain or make something strong again, especially control, authority, or influence
Beyond the definition
Imagine a child telling their parent once again that they really want ice cream after being told no. That child is trying to reassert that desire: to express it again with more force. But the word is not only about words. To reassert can also mean taking back a right, role, or sense of control after it has been weakened or challenged. A politician might reassert their support for a policy after criticism. A manager might reassert control over a team after a period of confusion. The idea is that something important was fading, being questioned, or being pushed aside, and now it is being made strong and clear again.
To reassert means to state, claim, or establish something again, usually in a firm way after it has been questioned, weakened, or ignored. It is more than simple repetition. The word suggests a deliberate effort to bring something back into a clear and strong position.
Think of a river carving its path through stone. Even if debris temporarily blocks its flow, the water may eventually reassert itself, finding a way around the obstacle and continuing on its course. In the same way, a person might reassert their authority after it has been undermined, or reassert control over a situation that is slipping out of hand.
The context often carries a sense of struggle or resistance. A country might reassert its sovereignty after foreign pressure. A company might reassert its place in the market after losing ground to competitors. An author might reassert the main theme of a novel near the end. It can also be used in a more personal way, as when someone tries to reassert their values after a confusing or difficult time.
While restating is simply saying something again, reassert usually adds the idea of pushing it back into place. It is about making sure a voice, a right, a value, or a kind of control is clearly felt again.
Examples
- 1
Meeting control
After the discussion got off track, the chair reasserted control and moved to the next item.
- 2
Government authority
The government sent extra police to reassert its authority in the region.
- 3
Clarification
She reasserted that the decision had been made by the whole team, not by one person.
- 4
Market position
The company is trying to reassert its position in the market after a difficult year.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Returning confidence
As soon as he started winning again, his old confidence began to reassert itself.
- Phrasereassert itself
become strong or noticeable again
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- reassert control
- reassert authority
- reassert a claim
- reassert itself
Word family
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Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- reassertverb
Forms
- reassertedpast tenseverb
- reasserting-ing formverb
- reassertsverb