recontextualize
verb
re·con·tex·tu·al·ize
ˌrē-kən-ˈteks-chə-wə-ˌlīz 
-chə-ˌlīz
recontextualized; recontextualizing; recontextualizes
: to place (something, such as a literary or artistic work) in a different context
Examples of recontextualize in a Sentence
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Some music has been recontextualized by the war.
—
Flora Bigham, ABC News, 19 Apr. 2026
The actress' turn to OnlyFans recontextualizes Elizabeth's partially nude role in the 1999 raunchy teen comedy, as Nadia is recorded via webcam by hapless admirer Jim (Jason Biggs), without her knowledge, in an encounter that spirals into live spectacle.
—Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2026
While its 209-minute runtime may be daunting, the film moves along at an entertaining clip (thanks in part to master editor Thelma Schoonmaker), and the viewer's patience is rewarded with a haunting conclusion that recontextualizes all that came before.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Apr. 2026
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
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Flora Bigham, ABC News, 19 Apr. 2026
The actress' turn to OnlyFans recontextualizes Elizabeth's partially nude role in the 1999 raunchy teen comedy, as Nadia is recorded via webcam by hapless admirer Jim (Jason Biggs), without her knowledge, in an encounter that spirals into live spectacle.
—Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2026
While its 209-minute runtime may be daunting, the film moves along at an entertaining clip (thanks in part to master editor Thelma Schoonmaker), and the viewer's patience is rewarded with a haunting conclusion that recontextualizes all that came before.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Apr. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for recontextualize
Cite this Entry
“Recontextualize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recontextualize. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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