rehab

IPA/ˈriːhæb/
KK[rihæb]IPA/ˈriːhæb/

rehab — noun

1. a course of medical and psychological treatment aimed at ending a person's physi

1.nounB2
Definition

a course of medical and psychological treatment aimed at ending a person's physical or mental dependence on drugs or alcohol

Example

After years of struggling with alcohol, Nkechi decided to check herself into rehab.

collocation: check (oneself) into rehab

The doctor told Felix that he needed to go to rehab for his drug problem.

collocation: go to rehab for [problem]

Common collocations
  • go to rehab
  • check into rehab
  • be in rehab
  • complete rehab
  • leave rehab
  • rehab program
  • rehab centre
  • rehab clinic
  • drug rehab
  • alcohol rehab
Synonyms
  • detox

    Narrower: refers specifically to the medical process of removing the substance from the body, not the full psychological program

  • treatment

    Broader and more formal: can include medication, counselling, and other approaches beyond a structured rehab program

  • recovery program

    Focuses on the ongoing process after the initial treatment phase; less commonly used for the facility itself

Grammar Patterns

in rehab

go to rehab

check (oneself) into rehab

rehab + noun (program / centre / clinic)

Usage Note

Frequently used without an article ("in rehab," "to rehab") like an uncountable place noun. The full form 'rehabilitation' sounds more formal and is rarely used in casual conversation about addiction.

Common Mistakes

She entered rehab to recover from her stroke.
She entered rehab to overcome her alcohol addiction.
This sense covers substance addiction only; for medical recovery see sense 2.

2. a series of exercises and therapies designed to help a person regain strength, m

2.nounB2
Definition

a series of exercises and therapies designed to help a person regain strength, movement, and independence after an illness, injury, or surgery

Example

After breaking her leg, Eleni spent six weeks in physical rehab.

collocation: physical rehab

Aarav went to rehab three times a week after his knee surgery.

pattern: go to rehab after [surgery]

Common collocations
  • physical rehab
  • cardiac rehab
  • stroke rehab
  • rehab exercises
  • rehab programme
  • rehab facility
  • rehab therapist
  • in rehab after
  • undergo rehab
Synonyms
  • physical therapy

    More specific and formal; focuses on exercise-based treatment by a licensed therapist

  • rehabilitation

    The full, more formal term; covers the same meaning but is preferred in medical writing

  • physiotherapy

    British English preference; synonymous with physical therapy but less common in American usage

Grammar Patterns

physical rehab

in rehab after [surgery / injury]

rehab + noun (programme / exercises / facility)

Usage Note

Commonly modified by an adjective specifying the type of recovery ("physical rehab," "cardiac rehab," "stroke rehab"). Often paired with 'after' to introduce the triggering condition. For formal writing, 'rehabilitation' or 'physical therapy' is preferred.

Common Mistakes

The court ordered him to rehab for his drug habit.
The court ordered him to rehab after his car accident injuries.
This sense (2) addresses physical recovery, not substance addiction (see sense 1).

Word family

  • rehabilitate
    verbC1
  • rehabilitation
    nounB2
  • rehabilitated
    adjectiveC1
  • rehabilitative
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Rehab (short for rehabilitation) is the broadest of these terms, describing a structured program that addresses both the physical and psychological aspects of addiction. Detox (detoxification) is narrower — it refers specifically to the medically supervised process of removing the substance from the body, typically lasting days rather than weeks. Treatment is the most general and formal term, covering rehab, detox, counselling, medication, and outpatient care. Recovery is a long-term process rather than a discrete program — someone can be 'in recovery' for years after completing rehab. For example: 'After a week of detox, she entered a 90-day rehab program; two years later, she is still in recovery.'

rehab ↗detox ↗treatment ↗recovery ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • rehab program
  • rehab centre
  • rehab clinic
  • rehab facility

Phrases

  • check into rehab
  • go to rehab
  • be in rehab
  • complete rehab
  • leave rehab
  • undergo rehab

Prepositions

  • in rehab
  • to rehab
  • through rehab
  • during rehab
  • after rehab

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Rehab is a mid-20th century shortening of rehabilitation, which comes from Latin re- ('again') and habilitare ('to make able or fit'). Rehabilitation entered English in the 1500s meaning 'restoration to a former state,' but the clipped form rehab gained widespread use in the 1960s and 70s, especially in the context of addiction treatment programs.