retake

1 of 2

verb

re·​take (ˌ)rē-ˈtāk How to pronounce retake (audio)
retook (ˌ)rē-ˈtu̇k How to pronounce retake (audio) ; retaken (ˌ)rē-ˈtā-kən How to pronounce retake (audio) ; retaking

transitive verb

1
: to take or receive again
2
3
: to photograph again

retake

2 of 2

noun

re·​take ˈrē-ˌtāk How to pronounce retake (audio)
: a subsequent filming, photographing, or recording undertaken to improve upon the first
also : an instance of this

Examples of retake in a Sentence

Verb They helped their party retake the Senate. He retook the lead close to the finish line. We will have to retake the photograph. Students can retake the test. Noun The director called for a retake.
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.
Verb
In Um Bada, an area recently retaken by the Sudanese army that's close to Khartoum, NPR witnessed six blindfolded young men under arrest, walking single file into a residence where the army was based. Emmanuel Akinwotu, NPR, 16 May 2025 Donald Trump’s first major trip abroad since retaking the oath of office may be remembered as a hinge moment and a seismic shift in Middle Eastern regional politics. Noah Rothman, National Review, 14 May 2025
Noun
For many, a retake meant lost income, added anxiety and prolonged professional uncertainty. Zack Defazio Farrell, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025 Snowplow parenting tells me to lean into snooping and send emails to their teachers requesting retakes and extensions. Gail Cornwall, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for retake

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1913, in the meaning defined above

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Retake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retake. Accessed 21 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

retake

1 of 2 verb
re·​take (ˈ)rē-ˈtāk How to pronounce retake (audio)
retook -ˈtu̇k How to pronounce retake (audio) ; retaken -ˈtā-kən How to pronounce retake (audio) ; retaking
: to take again
especially : to photograph again

retake

2 of 2 noun
re·​take ˈrē-ˌtāk How to pronounce retake (audio)
: a second photographing, filming, or recording to improve upon the first
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!