noun

resuscitation

/rɪˌsʌsɪˈteɪʃən/ · say it: rih·sus·uh·TAY·shuhn

reviving someone from unconsciousness or apparent death

In more detail

1. (noun) the act of bringing someone back to life or consciousness, especially after they have stopped breathing or their heart has stopped beating

2. (noun) the revival or restoration of something that had stopped or failed, such as an economy or a practice

Examples

The paramedics performed resuscitation on the patient using CPR.
The government's new policies aimed at the resuscitation of the struggling economy.

How to use resuscitation

Resuscitation is used in both medical and figurative contexts. In medical settings, it refers specifically to emergency procedures to restore breathing or heartbeat; cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is the most common term. Figuratively, it describes the revival of something inactive or failing, such as an economy or cultural practice. The term is formal and serious in tone.

Common phrases

cardiopulmonary resuscitation
mouth-to-mouth resuscitation
resuscitation attempt
resuscitation efforts
resuscitation techniques
economic resuscitation

Synonyms

revival · resurgence · restoration · reanimation · revitalization

Opposites

death · decline · collapse

Word family

resuscitate (verb) · resuscitated (adjective) · resuscitating (adjective)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse resuscitation with resurrection; resuscitation is the act of reviving someone who is dying or has recently died, while resurrection refers to coming back to life after actual death, often with spiritual connotations.

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