respawn
/ˌriːˈspɔːn/
CommonTo come back to life in a game after dying, or to return after a setback in real life.
The real-life use is usually lighthearted or self-deprecating. Saying you need to respawn implies you got wrecked.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | I keep dying at the same checkpoint. the respawn is so far back too. | Dying in a frustrating loop and having to redo a lot of content. | x, 2023 |
| 02 | give me 10 minutes to respawn and I'll be back on. | Taking a short break before continuing. | discord |
| 03 | that meeting killed me. currently waiting on my respawn timer. | The meeting was draining and recovery is needed. | x, 2024 |
| 04 | campers posted up right next to the respawn again. unplayable. | Enemies are waiting at the revival point to kill players immediately. | reddit, 2023 |
Use it when
- Your character dies in a game and returns to play.
- Someone is joking about recovering after something exhausting.
- You need a break to recharge before continuing.
- Describing where or when an enemy or player reappears.
Do not use it when
- You mean actually resting or sleeping.Use “recharge” instead.
- You mean a genuine comeback after failure.Use “bounce back” instead.
Variations and related forms
Respawn vs checkpoint
respawn
Respawn is the act of coming back after dying.
VS
checkpoint
Checkpoint is the saved location you return to when you respawn.
Origin and context
From game design terminology. 'Spawn' referred to generating enemies or players in a level. The 're-' prefix was added as multiplayer games introduced death and revival mechanics.
- First seen
- 1990s
- Confidence
- medium
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/respawnUpdated: 2026-08-28License: CC BY 4.0