To program again; to put new instructions or code into a computer, device, or system; to change someone's behavior through repetition.
From 're-' (again) plus 'program' (a set of instructions). 'Program' comes from Greek 'programma' meaning 'public notice.' The prefix 're-' can mean doing something over again.
Reprogramming is basically rewiring—whether it's a computer or your own brain through habit formation—and neuroscience shows your brain can actually create new neural pathways through repetition, which is why the metaphor works literally.
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