word
Reboot
To start something over from scratch โ a system, a franchise, a career, a relationship.
Origin
Originally from 'bootstrap loading' โ the early computing trick where a small program 'pulls itself up by its bootstraps' to load the rest of the operating system. Rebooting meant restarting that process. The verb broke out of IT in the 2000s when Hollywood started 'rebooting' franchises (Batman Begins, Casino Royale, the new Star Trek).
Modern usage
Universal. 'Reboot' a relationship, a brand, a workout routine. The IT meaning (turn it off and on again) is also alive and well.
In the wild
After the burnout year, she rebooted everything โ job, city, sleep schedule.โ common usage
Tags
restart
tech