reignite

To reignite means to set something on fire again, or—more commonly—to revive or rekindle something that has faded, diminished, or stopped. The root of the word comes from "ignite," meaning to start a fire, with the "re-" prefix indicating doing it again.

While literally referring to starting a fire anew (like reigniting a furnace), "reignite" is most often used metaphorically. It describes bringing back energy, enthusiasm, or activity to something that has waned. For example: "The CEO hoped the new marketing campaign would reignite sales," meaning they wanted to boost them after a period of decline.

You might reignite an old friendship by reaching out and making plans, reignite your creativity by taking up painting again, or even reignite public interest in a historical event through new research. It suggests that the thing being reignited wasn't completely extinguished—just reduced to embers, waiting for a spark to bring it back to full flame.

Unlike simply "start," "reignite" carries a sense of history and restoration. It implies something valuable was lost or dormant and is now being purposefully brought back to life. It's about revival, renewal, and bringing forth a brighter, more vibrant version of what once was.