reverse engineer
verb
reverse engineered; reverse engineering; reverse engineers
: to disassemble and examine or analyze in detail (a product or device) to discover the concepts involved in manufacture usually in order to produce something similar
reverse engineering
noun
Examples of reverse engineer in a Sentence
They reverse engineered the software.
Recent Examples on the Web
Blend was first spotted by a reverse engineer, Alessandro Paluzzi, and later confirmed by the company to TechCrunch.
—
Emily Price, PCMAG, 31 Mar. 2024
Hams have reverse engineered many details of the radio’s hardware and software.
—IEEE Spectrum, 27 Mar. 2024
To transform the industry through technology, Gheorghe decided to reverse engineer a shirt—decisions made on color and cut, where were the dyes sourced, how were the buttons made— until every aspect of the shirt and its design, manufacturing and distribution process was mapped out.
—Bruce Rogers, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024
That makes reverse engineering the malware is much harder.
—Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 10 Jan. 2024
In a Roblox developer forum, a staffer explained the company had actually unofficially supported Wine for some time — but that the unofficial support wouldn’t last, because some people were using it to reverse engineer the company’s Hyperion anti-cheat and develop Roblox hacks.
—Sean Hollister, The Verge, 2 Mar. 2024
Work Backward to Achieve Goals Set the goal and then reverse engineer the timeline to get there.
—Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 26 Jan. 2024
Lots of very smart people have tried to reverse engineer an explanation to the Stanley mystery—why this cup, right now, out of all the zillions of insulated drinking vessels available to American shoppers?
—Amanda Mull, The Atlantic, 19 Jan. 2024
Knowing the future that’s to come in the ‘71 film, King and co. reverse engineered a number of seeds that would eventually sprout.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Dec. 2023
Emily Price, PCMAG, 31 Mar. 2024
Hams have reverse engineered many details of the radio’s hardware and software.
—IEEE Spectrum, 27 Mar. 2024
To transform the industry through technology, Gheorghe decided to reverse engineer a shirt—decisions made on color and cut, where were the dyes sourced, how were the buttons made— until every aspect of the shirt and its design, manufacturing and distribution process was mapped out.
—Bruce Rogers, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024
That makes reverse engineering the malware is much harder.
—Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 10 Jan. 2024
In a Roblox developer forum, a staffer explained the company had actually unofficially supported Wine for some time — but that the unofficial support wouldn’t last, because some people were using it to reverse engineer the company’s Hyperion anti-cheat and develop Roblox hacks.
—Sean Hollister, The Verge, 2 Mar. 2024
Work Backward to Achieve Goals Set the goal and then reverse engineer the timeline to get there.
—Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 26 Jan. 2024
Lots of very smart people have tried to reverse engineer an explanation to the Stanley mystery—why this cup, right now, out of all the zillions of insulated drinking vessels available to American shoppers?
—Amanda Mull, The Atlantic, 19 Jan. 2024
Knowing the future that’s to come in the ‘71 film, King and co. reverse engineered a number of seeds that would eventually sprout.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Dec. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reverse engineer.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1973, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near reverse engineer
Cite this Entry
“Reverse engineer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reverse%20engineer. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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