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

Kingsolver followed Unsheltered with Demon Copperhead, a retelling of David Copperfield about an Appalachian orphan tossed around the foster system after losing his mother to an overdose. — Sam Worley, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026

Eyre is shepherding Hollow, a retelling of the Sleepy Hollow tale that has Sweeney and Belmont Cameli attached to star. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2026

For example, the Ram Shalaka oracle is based on the Hindu scripture Ramcharitmanas, a 16th-century retelling of the ancient Indian epic Ramayana. — Ambuj Tewari, The Conversation, 29 Sep. 2026

Some 80,000 young people filled the national stadium for an extravaganza of fireworks and a theatrical retelling of French Catholic history. — Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 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