rehouse

IPA/ˌriːˈhaʊz/
IPA/ˌriːˈhaʊz/

rehouse — verb

  • rehousepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • rehouseshe / she / it
  • rehousedpast simple
  • rehousing-ing form

1. to give someone a new place to live, especially after they have lost their previ

1.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to give someone a new place to live, especially after they have lost their previous home because of a disaster, building work, or some other reason outside their control.

Example

The council rehoused Ilan and his family after the flood ruined their flat.

council + rehouse + family + after [disaster]

Apinya's grandmother was rehoused in a modern bungalow with central heating.

passive: be rehoused in [new accommodation]

Common collocations
  • rehouse + family / residents / tenants / refugees / victims
  • rehouse + after / following (a disaster / fire / flood / earthquake)
  • rehouse + in / into (a new flat / a modern bungalow / temporary accommodation)
Synonyms
  • resettle

    more formal; often used for large groups moving to a different area or country

  • relocate

    broader meaning; can refer to people, families, or entire organisations, not just homes

  • rehome

    typically used for pets rather than people

Antonyms
  • evict

    to force someone to leave a home, with no suggestion of providing a new one

  • displace

    to force someone to leave their home, often because of war or disaster, without guaranteeing a new home

Grammar Patterns

rehouse + noun phrase

be rehoused + in/at/to

Usage Note

Frequently used in the passive voice (be rehoused), especially when the agent is a government body, council, or aid organisation. The subject providing the new home is typically an institution rather than an individual.

Common Mistakes

The company rehoused the office to a new building.
The company moved the office to a new building.
'rehouse' applies only to people and their homes, not to businesses, offices, or equipment.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All three words describe moving someone or something to a new place, but they differ in scope and register. 'Rehouse' is the most specific — it always involves providing a new home for a person or family, often after a disaster or emergency. 'Resettle' is more formal and tends to describe large-scale, long-term moves, such as an entire community moving to a new country or region. 'Relocate' is the broadest term and can apply to people, businesses, or even equipment — it does not necessarily imply a home is provided. 'Rehome' is largely restricted to pets and animals. For example, 'The council rehoused the family after the fire' focuses on giving them a new home, whereas 'The company relocated its headquarters to Taipei' says nothing about where employees will live.

resettlerelocate ↗rehome

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • rehouse + people + after + disaster
  • be rehoused + in + accommodation

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Formed by adding the prefix 're-' (meaning 'again') to the verb 'house', which comes from Old English 'hūsian' (to provide with shelter). The word dates from the mid-20th century and became common in the context of post-war urban renewal and social housing programmes.