retelling

1 of 2

noun

re·​tell·​ing (ˌ)rē-ˈte-liŋ 

: a new version of a story

a retelling of a Greek legend

retelling

2 of 2

present participle of retell

Examples of retelling in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The line became reenergerized while laying on the ground and started several fires, according to a retelling of the video in a July court filing by lawyers representing victims. — Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026

The Lizzie Borden case has inspired several previous retellings, including the 1975 TV movie The Legend of Lizzie Borden, Lifetime’s 2014 Lizzie Borden Took an Ax and 2018’s Lizzie starring Chloë Sevigny and Kristen Stewart. — Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 20 Aug. 2026

Part of what happens with the impressive hobby is that the anticipation and the retelling carry most of its emotional weight, while the experience itself is compressed into a few days and then absorbed into memory. — Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Carter’s collection of fairytale retellings are macabre and sensual, highlighting female violence and subverting expectations of female sexuality at equal turns. — S.m. Hallow, PEOPLE, 18 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1883, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for retelling

• bookselling
• channelling
• compelling
• dispelling
• excelling
• expelling
• foretelling
• impelling
• indwelling
• labelling
• levelling
• marvelling