retool

verb

re·​tool (ˌ)rē-ˈtül 

retooled; retooling; retools

transitive verb

1

: to reequip with tools

2

: reorganize

3

: revise, modify

intransitive verb

: to make especially minor changes or improvements

retool for the future

Examples of retool in a Sentence

The factory has been retooled.

The company is retooling its sales strategies.

The company is retooling for the future.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Rangers did retain Robert Garcia, Jacob Latz and Chris Martin, their next three highest in terms of innings pitched, and added Tyler Alexander, Carter Baumler and Jakob Junis in an effort to retool the bullpen. —Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Mar. 2026

With that in mind, Buehler has retooled his pitch mix. —Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 2026

Nestlé retooled entire product lines around health and sustainability. —Paul Polman, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2026

There’s an ironic challenge in retooling this genre for a generation famously more straight-edge than its living predecessors, though McElhaney and Kocher — nothing if not self-aware, as seasoned purveyors of internet sketch comedy — are on top of that, too. —Guy Lodge, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1917, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for retool

• ampoule
• bascule
• carpool
• cesspool
• ferrule
• footstool
• guayule
• lobule
• misrule
• preschool
• pustule
• whirlpool

Kids Definition

retool

verb

re·​tool (ˈ)rē-ˈtül 

1

: to equip again with new or different tools

retool a factory

2

: to make changes or improvements to

retool that idea