retread

1 of 3

verb (1)

re·​tread (ˌ)rē-ˈtred How to pronounce retread (audio)
retreaded; retreading

transitive verb

1
: to bond or vulcanize a new tread to the prepared surface of (a worn tire)
2
: to make over as if new
retread an old plot

retread

2 of 3

noun

re·​tread ˈrē-ˌtred How to pronounce retread (audio)
1
: a retreaded tire
2
: something made or done again especially in slightly altered form : remake
3
a
: one (such as a retired person) who is recalled or retrained for work
b
: one (such as an athlete) who has previously held the same or a similar position

re-tread

3 of 3

verb (2)

re-trod (ˌ)rē-ˈträd How to pronounce re-tread (audio) ; re-trodden (ˌ)rē-ˈträ-dᵊn How to pronounce re-tread (audio) or re-trod; re-treading

transitive verb

: to tread again

Examples of retread in a Sentence

Noun The show is just another TV sitcom retread.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Once a tire reaches the end of its lifespan, it is returned to the supplier and retreaded for be used for another lifespan by an airline. Ryan Erik King / Jalopnik, Quartz, 26 Feb. 2024 But a show needs more reason to exist than just retreading a fan favorite. Devan Coggan, EW.com, 22 Feb. 2024 Even human comedians are better served by doing something original than retreading The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Elizabeth Lopatto, The Verge, 8 Dec. 2023 Recycling is one, but reuse is better, a process called retreading. Tim Stevens, The Verge, 17 Nov. 2023 But accepting and retreading math curricula that have the U.S. sitting well outside the top 20 in proficiency doesn’t add up either. Readers, WSJ, 25 Aug. 2023 There's also the possibility that the franchise could decide to go with a more ongoing narrative that follows a unified story, picking up where things leave off, rather than retreading the same waters as the first time. Temi Adebowale, Men's Health, 12 Aug. 2023 To avoid retreading that path, the United States should take the time to examine closely the assumptions behind the new China consensus. Fareed Zakaria, Foreign Affairs, 6 Dec. 2019 In the years since, he’s kept trying new things, even as many other artists have gotten stuck retreading tired formulas. Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 16 Mar. 2023
Noun
But under the watchful eye of industry legend Yoshinori Kitase, director of the original game and lead producer for the modern project, the creators of 2020’s Final Fantasy Remake its 2024 sequel Rebirth had a more ambitious vision than a mere retread. Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 26 Feb. 2024 Embedded in those responses is a treatise on the capabilities of retreads and movie musicals themselves. Scott Hocker, theweek, 21 Jan. 2024 Wildly affirmative reviews for this new version, based on Winfrey’s 2004 Broadway musical retread, emphasize the gender and racial credits of its cast and crew. Armond White, National Review, 3 Jan. 2024 The attendees were in store for a retread of stump speeches—abbreviated to five minutes—that many of them had seen a handful of times at town halls. Antonia Hitchens, The New Yorker, 16 Jan. 2024 Don’t call them retreads, these are vital in-your-face live performances. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 6 Jan. 2024 Fixing life’s problems in tight half-hour episodes, Netflix’s Full House retread was more dramatic off camera. Mikey O'Connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Oct. 2023 All the other postseason contenders made significant upgrades, while the Dodgers got a bunch of retreads, slumping players or pitchers with astronomical ERAs. Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2023 The tread is rated for up to 8,000 miles with retreads priced at $10 per tire. Thomas Ricker, The Verge, 14 Sep. 2023
Verb
That familiar setup doesn’t mean the record is a re-tread of familiar territory, though, as Stapleton is looser, bolder and surer of himself, a recipe making this his best project yet. Brittney McKenna, SPIN, 10 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'retread.' 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

Verb (1)

1904, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1914, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1605, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of retread was in 1605

Dictionary Entries Near retread

Cite this Entry

“Retread.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retread. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

retread

1 of 2 verb
re·​tread (ˈ)rē-ˈtred How to pronounce retread (audio)
retreaded; retreading
1
: to put a new tread on (a worn tire)
2
: to make over as if new
retread an old plot

retread

2 of 2 noun
re·​tread ˈrē-ˌtred How to pronounce retread (audio)
1
: a retreaded tire
2
: something made or done again especially in a slightly altered form
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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