What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
reexperience
Example
As I watched the old home videos, I couldn't help but reexperience the joy of my childhood. [reexperience: verb]
Example
The smell of freshly baked cookies made me reexperience the warmth and comfort of my grandmother's kitchen. [reexperiencing: gerund or present participle]
relive
Example
Every time I watch my favorite movie, I feel like I'm reliving the story all over again. [relive: verb]
Example
The historical reenactment allowed visitors to relive the events of the Revolutionary War. [reliving: gerund or present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Relive is more commonly used than reexperience in everyday language. Relive is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while reexperience is less common and may be used more in therapeutic or introspective settings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between reexperience and relive?
Both reexperience and relive are relatively informal words, but relive may be slightly more casual due to its association with entertainment and recreation.