rearrange

verb

re·​ar·​range ˌrē-ə-ˈrānj How to pronounce rearrange (audio)
rearranged; rearranging
Synonyms of rearrangenext

transitive verb

: to arrange (something or someone) again in a different way
rearranged the flowers on the table
rearrange the furniture
I rearranged my hair/clothes/glasses.
… anagrams, which are words or phrases rearranged to form different words or phrases.Carolyn Phelan
… massaging his knees while he talks, frequently rearranging himself into a more comfortable position.Daniel Ross
Sarah is more or less grimacing now …. In a minute, she'll rearrange her face to look cheerful.Aurelie Sheehan
rearranging their lives … to go back to school, to get the education that was denied them or that they did not want when they were young.Ruth Dorgan
… thousands of people had to cancel or rearrange their travel plans.Ken Young

Examples of rearrange in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That way, the space already welcomes conversation, and the furniture is arranged around the central point so guests don't have to rearrange the furniture themselves. Ashlyn Needham, The Spruce, 12 Jan. 2026 Alice is paranoid, thinking her roommate is rearranging her shower supplies and that someone might be poisoning her food. Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2026 The drawings, gestures, and references are designed to soften over time, allowing time to distort and rearrange what was seen. Okla Jones, Essence, 9 Jan. 2026 In other business, the board rearranged officers, with Commissioner Ed Morales, R-South, taking over the gavel as president. Shelley Jones, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rearrange

Word History

First Known Use

1778, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rearrange was in 1778

Cite this Entry

“Rearrange.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rearrange. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

rearrange

verb
re·​ar·​range
ˌrē-ə-ˈrānj
: to arrange again usually in a different way
rearranged the furniture
rearrangement noun

More from Merriam-Webster on rearrange

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!