respawn
ree-SPAWN
/ˌriːˈspɔːn/
To reappear or be recreated in a game after being killed or destroyed; (noun) the act or place of reappearing.
Implies an automatic, system-generated resurrection at a specific point (a 'respawn point') rather than a manual reload of a saved game.
The story behind the word. The base word 'spawn' refers to fish or amphibians releasing eggs. In early computing, 'spawning' was used to describe a parent process creating a child process. Gamers adapted this to describe characters appearing in the world, adding 're-' to describe coming back after death.
Word relationships
- reincarnate: 'Reincarnate' has spiritual and biological connotations, while 'respawn' is strictly a mechanical, digital resurrection.
- resurrect: 'Resurrect' often implies an external force or spell bringing someone back, whereas 'respawn' is an automatic system function.
- permadeath: A game mechanic where a character's death is permanent, preventing them from respawning.
Commonly confused with
- spawn: 'Spawn' is the initial creation or entry of an entity into the game world, while 'respawn' is a subsequent entry after dying.
Word family
- spawning (noun): The process of releasing or generating.
Collocations
- respawn point
- respawn timer
- instant respawn
- respawn anchor
Example sentences
- "In this mode, when your character dies, you will respawn at your team's base after a five-second delay." Explaining the rules of a multiplayer game mode.
Memory hook
Re-spawn: you are 'spawned' (born) 're-' (again) into the game. Respawn to play again.
When not to use
Do not use 'respawn' to describe real-world recovery or medical resuscitation, except as a humorous metaphor.
Fun facts
- Early arcade games didn't have 'respawning'; instead, they used a 'lives' system where dying eventually led to a hard 'Game Over' screen.
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