reattach

reattach — verb

1. to fix or join something back to the place it was originally connected to, after

1.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to fix or join something back to the place it was originally connected to, after it has come off or been removed.

Example

The surgeon carefully reattached the patient's severed finger during the six-hour operation.

medical context: reattach + body part

Feng used strong wood glue to reattach the broken leg of the old chair.

reattach + object + to + object using [tool/material]

Common collocations
  • reattach a finger / limb
  • reattach a handle / leg / arm
  • reattach a hose / pipe / wire
  • reattach a button / strap
  • carefully reattached
  • surgically reattached
Synonyms
  • reconnect

    closer in meaning but more general; can refer to electrical or digital connections, not just physical ones

  • rejoin

    slightly more formal; often used for larger structures or tissues

  • refasten

    specifically means to close or secure something that was unfastened, rather than fixing a broken join

Antonyms
  • detach

    the opposite action — to remove or separate something

Grammar Patterns

reattach + noun + to + noun

Usage Note

Common in medical, mechanical, and household contexts. The object is usually something that has become physically separated — a body part, a component, or a piece of clothing.

Common Mistakes

The doctor reattached the patient after surgery
The doctor reattached the patient's severed finger after surgery.
'reattach' needs a specific object that was detached; you cannot use it to mean 'reconnect with a person.'

2. to become joined or connected again naturally, without being put back by someone

2.verbintransitiveB2
Definition

to become joined or connected again naturally, without being put back by someone — for example, a torn muscle fiber or a detached retina healing back into place.

Example

After the laser treatment, the retina gradually reattached over the next few weeks.

medical: body part reattaches by itself

The surgeon said the torn ligament might never reattach without stitches.

Common collocations
  • retina reattached
  • ligament reattached
  • nerve/graft reattached
  • reattach naturally / on its own
  • gradually reattached
Synonyms
  • heal

    broader meaning — healing includes reattachment but also covers other types of tissue recovery

  • reconnect

    less specific; sounds more technical when used for living tissue

Antonyms
  • detach

    the opposite event — something coming loose or separating

Grammar Patterns

noun + reattach

noun + reattach + to + noun

Usage Note

Primarily used in medical contexts about body tissues healing. The subject is always the thing that reattaches itself. An agent (someone doing the action) is not expressed — if you want to say who did it, use Sense 1 instead.

Common Mistakes

The nerve reattached itself naturally' (technically acceptable but rare).
The nerve reattached naturally.
the reflexive 'itself' is usually dropped in natural usage with this sense.