1 ADJ If you think someone behaves in an unacceptable way and does not do what they are told, you can say they are rebellious . □ …a rebellious teenager. ● re|bel|lious|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the normal rebelliousness of youth.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] A rebellious group of people is a group involved in taking violent action against the rulers of their own country, usually in order to change the system of government there. □ The prime minister will face even greater resistance from rebellious backbenchers.
re|birth /riː bɜː r θ/ N‑UNCOUNT You can refer to a change that leads to a new period of growth and improvement in something as its rebirth . □ [+ of ] …the rebirth of democracy in Latin America.
re|born /riː bɔː r n/ V-PASSIVE If you say that someone or something has been reborn , you mean that they have become active again after a period of being inactive. □ [be V -ed + as ] Russia was being reborn as a great power.
re|bound (rebounds , rebounding , rebounded ) The verb is pronounced /r I baʊ nd/. The noun is pronounced /riː baʊnd/. 1 VERB If something rebounds from a solid surface, it bounces or springs back from it. □ [V prep] His shot in the 21st minute of the game rebounded from a post. □ [V ] The hot liquid splashed down on the concrete and rebounded.
2 VERB If an action or situation rebounds on you, it has an unpleasant effect on you, especially when this effect was intended for someone else. □ [V + on/upon ] Mia realised her trick had rebounded on her. □ [V ] The CIA was extremely wary of interfering with the foreign press; in the past, such interference had rebounded.
3 PHRASE If you say that someone is on the rebound , you mean that they have just ended a relationship with a girlfriend or boyfriend. This often makes them do things they would not normally do. □ [+ from ] He took heroin for the first time when he was on the rebound from a broken relationship.
4 N‑COUNT In basketball, a rebound is a shot which someone catches after it has hit the board behind the basket.
re|brand /riː bræ nd/ (rebrands , rebranding , rebranded ) VERB To rebrand a product or organization means to present it to the public in a new way, for example by changing its name or appearance. [BUSINESS ] □ [V n] There are plans to rebrand many Texas stores.
re|brand|ing /riːbræ nd I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT Rebranding is the process of giving a product or an organization a new image, in order to make it more attractive or successful. [BUSINESS ] □ [+ of ] The £85m programme will involve an extensive rebranding of the airline.
re|buff /r I bʌ f/ (rebuffs , rebuffing , rebuffed ) VERB If you rebuff someone or rebuff a suggestion that they make, you refuse to do what they suggest. □ [be V -ed + by ] His proposals have already been rebuffed by the Prime Minister. [Also be V -ed in n] ● N‑VAR Rebuff is also a noun. □ [+ to ] The results of the poll dealt a humiliating rebuff to Mr Jones.
re|build /riː b I ld/ (rebuilds , rebuilding , rebuilt )
1 VERB When people rebuild something such as a building or a city, they build it again after it has been damaged or destroyed. □ [V n] They say they will stay to rebuild their homes rather than retreat to refugee camps.
2 VERB When people rebuild something such as an institution, a system, or an aspect of their lives, they take action to bring it back to its previous condition. □ [V n] Everyone would have to work hard together to rebuild the economy. □ [V ] The agency has been rebuilding under new management.
re|buke /r I bjuː k/ (rebukes , rebuking , rebuked ) VERB If you rebuke someone, you speak severely to them because they have said or done something that you do not approve of. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] The company has been publicly rebuked by one of its largest shareholders over its executive pay levels. ● N‑VAR Rebuke is also a noun. □ The UN delivered a strong rebuke to both countries for persisting with nuclear testing.
re|but /r I bʌ t/ (rebuts , rebutting , rebutted ) VERB If you rebut a charge or criticism that is made against you, you give reasons why it is untrue or unacceptable. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] He spent most of his speech rebutting criticisms of his foreign policy.
re|but|tal /r I bʌ t ə l/ (rebuttals ) N‑COUNT If you make a rebuttal of a charge or accusation that has been made against you, you make a statement which gives reasons why the accusation is untrue. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of/to ] He is conducting a point-by-point rebuttal of charges from former colleagues.
re|cal|ci|trant /r I kæ ls I trənt/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe someone or something as recalcitrant , you mean that they are unwilling to obey orders or are difficult to deal with. [FORMAL ] □ The danger is that recalcitrant local authorities will reject their responsibilities. ● re|cal|ci|trance /r I kæ ls I trəns/ N‑UNCOUNT □ …the government's recalcitrance over introducing even the smallest political reform.
re|call ◆◆◇ (recalls , recalling , recalled ) The verb is pronounced /r I kɔː l/. The noun is pronounced /riː kɔːl/. 1 VERB When you recall something, you remember it and tell others about it. □ [V that] Henderson recalled that he first met Pollard during a business trip to Washington. □ [V with quote] Her teacher recalled: 'She was always on about modelling.' □ [V wh] Colleagues today recall with humor how meetings would crawl into the early morning hours. □ [V n] I recalled the way they had been dancing together. □ [V ] I have no idea what she said, something about airline travel, I seem to recall.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Recall is the ability to remember something that has happened in the past or the act of remembering it. □ [+ of ] He had a good memory, and total recall of her spoken words.