recalibrate

verb

re·​cal·​i·​brate (ˌ)rē-ˈka-lə-ˌbrāt How to pronounce recalibrate (audio)
recalibrated; recalibrating; recalibrates

transitive verb

: to calibrate (something) again
… these systems gradually drift off course so that the navigator periodically needs a fresh point of reference to recalibrate the navigation system.Stefi Weisburd
The problem is that eating more doesn't sate us; we merely recalibrate how much we think we need.Nando Pelusi
recalibration noun
plural recalibrations
Literacy standards were in need of constant recalibration, as each new phase of the war could inflate or deflate the value of existing skills, inflate or deflate the effectiveness of existing induction policies and instructional efforts. Deborah Brandt

Examples of recalibrate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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But at the outset of the fifth — the first time the previous year’s male champ was pushed that far in the first round since Roger Federer in 2010 — Alcaraz recalibrated. Howard Fendrich, Baltimore Sun, 30 June 2025 Still, the agreement includes a 2029 review, which will coincide with the next U.S. presidential elections, to assess the progress and recalibrate NATO's response to Russia's growing threat. Barney Henderson, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025 The parliamentarian recently ruled that a key Medicaid provision in the bill doesn't comply with the rules, forcing Senate leaders to recalibrate. Zac Anderson, USA Today, 28 June 2025 As Beijing recalibrates its international strategy in response to the second Trump term, some Chinese foreign policy thinkers are speaking openly about opportunities for China to advance its vision of a multipolar world favorable to its interests. Oriana Skylar Mastro, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for recalibrate

Word History

First Known Use

1883, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of recalibrate was in 1883

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Cite this Entry

“Recalibrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recalibrate. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

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