transitive verb

1
: to tell again or in another form
2
: to count again

Examples of retell in a Sentence

The movie retells the story of Romeo and Juliet.
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.
Given how many times the Unabomber story has been told and retold, what made this version of his story appealing to you? — Rachel Corbett, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026 So it’s been easy to overlook, even though his story has been told and retold so many times over the years. — Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2026 Since her death, Wuornos’ story has been told and retold numerous times in popular culture, most notably in the 2003 biographical crime drama Monster, starring Charlize Theron and Christina Ricci as Wuornos and Moore, respectively. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Sep. 2026 The Story of the Russian Revolution (2017) retells the history of the Russian Revolution of 1917 from a Marxist point of view. — Scott Spires, Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for retell

Word History

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of retell was in 1593

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Retell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retell. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

Kids Definition

1
: to tell again or in another form
2
: to count again
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster