plural do-overs
: a new attempt or opportunity to do something after a previous attempt has been unsuccessful or unsatisfactory
Art, unlike life, permits do-overs: the illusion that one can get things right with craft and persistence.Kahn Man
As for his pitch, Keaton's first try was in the dirt. He requested a do-over and fired one right down the middle.Steve Rushin

Examples of do-over in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The logline: In this immersive dating experience, four fabulous friends in their fifties who are looking for a love do-over will leave their busy city lives for a dating utopia. Marc Berman, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023 For those who could only secure tickets for Friday, there was no concert do-over, and memories of their Swift show were clouded by the poor concertgoing experience. Kaetlyn Liddy, NBC News, 20 Nov. 2023 Many Israelis apparently want to have a do-over of 1948. Rich Lowry, National Review, 29 Oct. 2023 Others piled on in what was, in some ways, a do-over of the Trump-Emmer feud that has simmered since January, when the former president’s allies tried to stop Emmer’s rise to the GOP whip’s job. Lisa Mascaro, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2023 Rewarding his coach’s faith with the kind of steady and efficient quarterback play that UCLA had been missing in recent weeks, Garbers thrived in his midseason do-over. Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2023 Maybe, just maybe, the court’s conservatives want a do-over. Michael Waldman, The New Republic, 4 Oct. 2023 Sorry, no pitch do-overs are allowed on Shark Tank — just like in the real world! Skyler Caruso, Peoplemag, 29 Sep. 2023 Mixes that have been mutually, coincidentally corrected with spectacular 2023 do-overs. Chris Willman, Variety, 27 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'do-over.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1912, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of do-over was in 1912

Dictionary Entries Near do-over

Cite this Entry

“Do-over.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/do-over. Accessed 11 Dec. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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