reposition

1 of 2

noun

re·​po·​si·​tion ˌrē-pə-ˈzi-shən How to pronounce reposition (audio)
ˌre-
: the act of repositing : the state of being reposited

reposition

2 of 2

verb

re·​po·​si·​tion ˌrē-pə-ˈzi-shən How to pronounce reposition (audio)
repositioned; repositioning; repositions

transitive verb

1
: to change the position of
2
: to revise the marketing strategy for (a product or a company) so as to increase sales

Examples of reposition in a Sentence

Verb she repositioned the wood before taking another swing with the ax
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Release the clamp, reposition the saw chain and repeat. Joe Truini, Popular Mechanics, 10 July 2023 But were those funds used strategically to reposition institutions for the post-pandemic new-normal, or were they used largely (or only) to offset costs of managing through the pandemic and bridging gaps in revenue to meet ongoing expenses? David Rosowsky, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2022 Western officials suggest the relative lull in Russian aggression around the Ukrainian capital was to lay low and reposition forces for a new push. Alan Cullison and Alexander Osipovich, WSJ, 11 Mar. 2022 Then, following intense scrutiny from conservative outlets and waves of online misinformation, the company decided to remove some of the items from their collection, as well as reposition the goods further back in some Southern stores. Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 27 May 2023 No sooner had an architect nudged the angle of a wall on a 3-D digital model than the program would automatically reposition ducts, recalculate loads, and spit out how much more steel each change implied. Curbed, 14 Apr. 2022 Dynamically edit photos to remove objects or reposition subjects for Instagram-worthy snaps. Gabriel Zamora, PCMAG, 11 May 2023 It’s happened before, and in fact the Pentagon is already discussing where to reposition forces, possibly in Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, to enable strikes inside the country. Phil Klay, Time, 23 Apr. 2021 Washington — An American citizen has died in Sudan amid intense fighting between two rival generals, the State Department said Thursday, as the U.S. repositions troops in the region ahead of a potential evacuation of the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum. Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2023
Verb
During a 10-hour surgery, the surgical team did not reposition or test blood flow to a patient’s leg that wasn’t being operated on. Katie Shepherd, Washington Post, 24 Sep. 2023 But just as Nella begins to distance herself from Hazel, the newcomer repositions herself as Nella’s ally. Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 11 Sep. 2023 The iPhone’s phone app will also reposition the hang up button to the bottom right of the screen, next to other functions. Samantha Murphy Kelly, CNN, 10 Sep. 2023 The east-meets-west methodology of The Well connects with traditional local practices here; treatments range from rebozo repositioning yoga to celestial bathing, immersive healing, and attunement sessions in the destination's Bath House. Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 30 Aug. 2023 The headset rearranges the raw image to remove gaps and reposition the sensor data. IEEE Spectrum, 25 Aug. 2023 Of course, repositioning the bombers farther from Ukraine’s border at places like Olenya may increase the challenges of future Ukrainian attacks without preventing missile strikes by the long-range Russian bombers. Sébastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 24 Aug. 2023 In conclusion, repositioning or repurposing distressed real estate offers a host of benefits that go beyond financial gains. Stephen Nalley, Forbes, 17 July 2023 And, the one proposed for Quail Gardens Drive could be repositioned later to better accommodate YMCA buses, if necessary, Bandegan added. Barbara Henry, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Sep. 2023 See More

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

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

circa 1859, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of reposition was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near reposition

Cite this Entry

“Reposition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reposition. Accessed 3 Oct. 2023.

Kids Definition

reposition

verb
re·​po·​si·​tion
ˌrē-pə-ˈzish-ən
: to change the position of

Medical Definition

reposition

transitive verb
re·​po·​si·​tion ˌrē-pə-ˈzish-ən How to pronounce reposition (audio)
: to return to or place in a normal or proper position
reposition a dislocated shoulder

More from Merriam-Webster on reposition

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!