redefine

verb

re·​de·​fine ˌrē-di-ˈfīn How to pronounce redefine (audio)
redefined; redefining; redefines

transitive verb

1
: to define (something, such as a concept) again : reformulate
had to redefine their terms
2
a
: to reexamine or reevaluate especially with a view to change
redefinition noun

Examples of redefine in a Sentence

learning that he had been adopted forced him to completely redefine his identity
Recent Examples on the Web The project portrays a young boxer from the lower rungs of society who redefines herself through the struggles of her spiritual journey. Patrick Frater, Variety, 22 Nov. 2023 The issue wasn’t talent, but what to do with all of it: Leonard, George, Harden and Westbrook, all first-option scorers for the last decade, had to redefine their roles while in the same lineup, often with jumbled results. Andrew Greif, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2023 From cutting-edge technology gadgets that redefine convenience to practical solutions for everyday home challenges, each of these products are carefully selected for its wow factor. Poppy Morgan, Rolling Stone, 21 Nov. 2023 Congress should reject proposals that redefine poverty in a way that answers liberal calls for ever-growing government benefits. Matt Weidinger, National Review, 21 Nov. 2023 After the first Italian translation of Lord of the Rings in the 1970s, the books were adopted as a new and wholesome frame for a post-Fascist right in Italy seeking to redefine itself after the dark days of Benito Mussolini. Stefano Pitrelli, Washington Post, 16 Nov. 2023 Maybe a more broadly curious development process refocused on new stories and settings, whether from the international marketplace and its creators or even from AI, can open up the aperture to redefine what makes something a good story to tell. Howard Homonoff, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023 Through Chavarria’s unabashedly romantic menswear and Rauw’s alluring public persona, the two have helped redefine what a Latino man looks like today. José Criales-Unzueta, Vogue, 8 Nov. 2023 Fair enough: Platforms, especially Facebook, have encouraged news organizations to redefine their publishing strategies in the past, including through disastrous pivots to video, only to change directions with an algorithm update or the falsification of key metrics. Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 3 Nov. 2023 See More

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

1848, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of redefine was in 1848

Dictionary Entries Near redefine

Cite this Entry

“Redefine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/redefine. Accessed 6 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

redefine

verb
re·​de·​fine ˌrē-di-ˈfīn How to pronounce redefine (audio)
1
: to define (as a concept) again
redefined their terms
2
: to reexamine or reevaluate especially with a view to change
redefine our goals

More from Merriam-Webster on redefine

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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