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

This is the new reality of facing the 76ers, who retooled their roster with the offseason additions of James and Brown to a core of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026

On Tuesday, hours after repositioning itself as a tech company, Reuters reported that the carmaker plans to, yet again, retool some of its factories to introduce new hybrid versions of its popular three-row SUVs. — Shelly Banjo, semafor.com, 28 Oct. 2026

Amid the overhaul, Swisher asked if the company’s new leaders should significantly retool the company’s approach to programming given the recent slowdown in viewership growth. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 26 Oct. 2026

The show was retooled as The Conners, killing Barr’s character off via a drug overdose, and aired for seven seasons. — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 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