restart
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /rɪstˈɑːt/
US
- /riˈstɑrt/
Description
- Begin again
- Start over
- Reboot
- Try again
- Set going again
Imagine your computer freezes mid-task—frustrating, right? To restart it means to turn it off and on again, giving it a fresh start. But restarting isn't just for technology! It can mean starting an activity over, whether it's a game level, a project that hit a snag, or even trying to improve a relationship after a disagreement. You might restart your day with a strong cup of coffee if the morning got off to a rough start.
Think of it like hitting the reset button—a chance to try again and hopefully achieve a better outcome. Sometimes a restart is necessary for progress; other times, it's simply about getting back on track after an interruption. A chef might restart a sauce if it burns, or a runner might restart a lap after a stumble.
To restart something means to start it again after it has stopped, been interrupted, or gone wrong. Sometimes that means going back to the beginning, but not always. While commonly associated with technology—like restarting a computer, phone, or app—its uses extend far beyond the digital world.
You might restart a car engine when it stalls, restart a conversation after an awkward silence, or even restart your life by making significant changes to your habits and goals. It's about acknowledging a setback or imperfection and choosing to try again with renewed effort.
The context often dictates the nuance of "restart." In technology, it's a technical process of resetting systems. But in personal terms, it carries a weight of intention—a deliberate decision to move forward despite challenges. A company might restart a failing project with new leadership and strategies. An athlete might restart training after an injury.
The key element is the idea of starting again after a stop or problem, not necessarily erasing everything that came before, but often using past experience to make the next attempt better. So whether it's a machine or a mindset, to restart is to begin again with a fresh sense of purpose.
Examples
- 1
Device problem
If the screen goes black, restart the phone.
- 2
Car engine
He restarted the car after it stalled at the lights.
- 3
Class activity
The class restarted after a short break.
- 4
Dropped call
We had to restart the discussion when the call dropped.
- 5
Learning exercise
Let's restart from page one and do the exercise more carefully.
Pattern
restart from + point
begin again at that point
- 6
Factory production
The factory hopes to restart production next week.
- 7
Negotiations
Both sides agreed to restart the talks in June.
- 8
Software update
The update won't finish until after the restart.
Phrase
after the restart
after the device turns off and on again
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- restartverb
Forms
- restartedpast tenseverb
- restarting-ing formverb
- restartsverb