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

Not with how little draft capital this organization has, and not with how difficult the task ahead is for whoever is tasked with retooling this roster for next season. —James Mirtle, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026

The overhaul, outlined in five papers published today in the American Journal of Psychiatry, reflects the APA’s optimism that the DSM can be retooled to become more scientific. —Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 28 Jan. 2026

Brightline retooled its train schedule, fare strategy and added more cars during the autumn as efforts to help increase its revenue faster. —Tom Hudson, Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2026

The changeover brought operations to a halt in order to retool the plant. —Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 24 Jan. 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