readjust

verb

re·​ad·​just ˌrē-ə-ˈjəst How to pronounce readjust (audio)
readjusted; readjusting; readjusts

transitive + intransitive

: to adjust (something or oneself) again
On three samples we bought, the running belt wouldn't maintain the proper tension, so we had to readjust it every few hours …Consumer Reports
… got lower cost-of-living increases after Congress readjusted Social Security benefits in 1977.Margot Hornblower
She straightened her scarlet hat and readjusted her veil unsteadily.Lucy Maud Montgomery
… a young man may be excused for feeling a little dizzy when he is called upon suddenly and without any warning to readjust all his preconceived views on any subject.P. G. Wodehouse
Postparental couples … must readjust their whole way of life and their relationship to each other after the children leave home.M. Riley and J. Waring
He stared about the room, collecting his thoughts, readjusting himself for the day's work.Frank Norris
readjusting to life after losing his job as an advertising suit in the UK.Amanda Ducker
"Once you have developed singing skills as a child, they tend to stay with you, particularly for girls," [Graham] Welch says. Unlike boys, girls don't have to readjust to a dramatically lower voice during adolescence.Bruce Bower

Examples of readjust in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Payments are calculated based on your earnings and household size, and are readjusted each year. Tara Siegel Bernard, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Aug. 2023 Payments are based on your earnings and household size, and are readjusted each year. Tara Siegel Bernard, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2023 Stefanovic, 37, keeps watch over the school’s 55 exterior doors, assesses gun threats and consoles kids readjusting to in-person learning. Maggie Prosser, Dallas News, 14 Sep. 2023 All of this makes the future a pretty bleak place to bring a child into, and people are readjusting their plans accordingly. Leo Kim, WIRED, 31 Aug. 2023 Be willing to see reality and readjust as needed to bring your brand forth successfully. Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 28 July 2023 The documentary forces you to readjust your expectations both for the genre and for the two protagonists. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Aug. 2023 Your home's builder might have intended the room for a specific purpose, but feel free to readjust if that doesn't align with your everyday priorities. Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2023 As with filing, sharpen every other tooth, then readjust the grinding angle and sharpen the remaining alternate-angle teeth. Joe Truini, Popular Mechanics, 10 July 2023 See More

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

circa 1678, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of readjust was circa 1678

Dictionary Entries Near readjust

Cite this Entry

“Readjust.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/readjust. Accessed 30 Sep. 2023.

Medical Definition

readjust

intransitive verb
re·​ad·​just ˌrē-ə-ˈjəst How to pronounce readjust (audio)
: to become adjusted or undergo adjustment again
readjustment noun

Legal Definition

readjust

transitive verb
re·​ad·​just
ˌrē-ə-ˈjəst
: to adjust again
especially : to voluntarily reorganize (a corporation)

intransitive verb

: to become readjusted
readjustment noun

More from Merriam-Webster on readjust

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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