recontextualize

verb

re·​con·​tex·​tu·​al·​ize ˌrē-kən-ˈteks-chə-wə-ˌlīz 

-chə-ˌlīz

recontextualized; recontextualizing; recontextualizes

transitive verb

: to place (something, such as a literary or artistic work) in a different context

Examples of recontextualize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As a meme, the captions recontextualize the scene to describe situations where things seem normal at first but go wrong when the saxophones start playing. —Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 6 Apr. 2026

As the trend spread, creators started recontextualizing the whole premise. —Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 6 Apr. 2026

But these songs don’t sound the least bit assured, partly because their sonic elements recontextualize them in the world of Western rap (fashion-rap cornball Teezo Touchdown has credits, as does JPEGMAFIA). —Joshua Minsoo Kim, Pitchfork, 24 Mar. 2026

Plenty of other changes to the game — for instance, the shift in leniency of assist tracking — have irrevocably recontextualized the gravity of a triple-double. —Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1954, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for recontextualize

• operationalize
• actualize
• antagonize
• apologise
• apologize
• capitalize
• categorize
• characterize
• commercialize
• conceptualize
• contrariwise
• criminalize

Kids Definition

recontextualize

verb

re·​con·​tex·​tu·​al·​ize ˌrē-kən-ˈteks-chə-wə-ˌlīz 

-chə-ˌlīz

: to place (something, as a literary or artistic work) in a different context

recontextualizing the story