reprocess

verb

re·​pro·​cess (ˌ)rē-ˈprä-ˌses 

-ˈprō-, 

-səs

reprocessed; reprocessing; reprocesses

transitive verb

: to subject to a special process or treatment in preparation for reuse

especially : to extract uranium and plutonium from (the spent fuel rods of a nuclear reactor) for use again as fuel

Examples of reprocess in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Officials also have not resolved how nuclear waste will be disposed of, although Wright said the Energy Department is in talks with Utah and other states to host sites that could reprocess fuel or handle permanent disposal. —Matthew Daly, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2026

The company has launched a new textile-to-textile recycling technology called ReRun, which takes pre- and post-consumer textile waste and reprocesses it into new insulation products. —Jennifer Bringle, Sourcing Journal, 9 Feb. 2026

But treating reprocessing as a near-term fix for SONGS distracts from the work that experts agree is unavoidable. —Mike Levin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026

The rest are not suitable for reprocessing including many disposable coffee cups from your local coffee shop. —Chris Baskind, Treehugger, 20 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

reprocess

verb

re·​pro·​cess rē-ˈpräs-ˌes 

-ˈprōs-, 

-es

: to subject to a special process or treatment in preparation for reuse