To resuscitate someone means to revive them from unconsciousness or apparent death, bringing them back to life or consciousness. When a person stops breathing or their heart stops beating, medical professionals try to resuscitate them using techniques like CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) or special equipment. Lifeguards learn to resuscitate drowning victims. Paramedics carry equipment to resuscitate accident victims.

When doctors successfully resuscitate a patient, they've literally brought that person back from the edge of death. It's one of the most dramatic moments in medicine: someone who seemed lost suddenly breathes again, their heart starts beating, and they return to consciousness.

People also use resuscitate figuratively to mean bringing something back to life or usefulness. A failing business might be resuscitated by new leadership. A boring party might be resuscitated when someone suggests an exciting game. In these cases, the word suggests taking something that seemed finished or lifeless and breathing new energy into it.