rename

verb

re·​name (ˌ)rē-ˈnām How to pronounce rename (audio)
renamed; renaming

transitive verb

: to give (someone or something) a new name
renamed the street in honor of the late mayor
… a 16-year-old who left the Orthodox life a year ago. He has renamed himself Adam to cement the break …Ron Kampeas
The program was actually a relatively simple … script that renames files on your hard drive …Michael J. Miller

Examples of rename in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Musk renamed Twitter to X after purchasing the company. Dan Mangan,josephine Rozzelle, CNBC, 19 Oct. 2025 The Globe launches its first San Diego National Shakespeare Festival in conjunction with San Diego State College (later renamed San Diego State University). Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Oct. 2025 The school has since expanded and been renamed Florida Memorial University and is South Florida’s only HBCU. Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2025 This is not the first attempt to rename White Settlement Road. Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rename

Word History

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rename was in 1579

Cite this Entry

“Rename.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rename. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

rename

verb
re·​name
(ˈ)rē-ˈnām
: to give a new name to

More from Merriam-Webster on rename

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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