rebuilding
UK[ˌriːˈbɪldɪŋ]US[ˌriˈbɪldɪŋ]
n
The process of building something again after it has been damaged or destroyed.
n
The process of making something strong or successful again.
Morpheme Breakdown
re
build
ing
re
again
build
construct
ing
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'rebuilding' is a transparent English construction from the late Middle English period, combining the Latin-derived prefix 're-' with the Germanic verb 'build'. The core verb 'build' originates from the Old English 'byldan', meaning "to construct a house," which itself is related to 'bold', meaning "dwelling." The prefix 're-', from Latin, consistently carries the sense of repetition or restoration. The addition of the '-ing' suffix transforms the action into a noun denoting the process itself. Thus, the literal morphemic logic—"the process of constructing again"—maps directly onto its modern meanings of physical reconstruction or figurative restoration.
Analysis
Structure: re (again) + build (construct) + ing (noun suffix)
re: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "again" or "back".
build: Old English origin (byldan), the core verb meaning "to construct".
ing: Old English origin, a suffix forming verbal nouns (gerunds) indicating the action or process.
Examples
The rebuilding of the historic cathedral took over a decade.
After the recession, the government focused on economic rebuilding.
The team is in a rebuilding phase, training many new young players.