as in to rebuild
to provide (something) with new parts that were not available when it was originally built
The factory has been retrofitted to meet the new safety regulations. We can retrofit your car with the new fuel system.
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Recent Examples of retrofit
For its part, Singapore has been aggressively retrofitted according to the whims of capital—its coastline expanded, its graveyards exhumed and paved over, its landmarks destroyed—leaving the populace disoriented.
—
Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
The bills would give local governments the authority to set stricter fire safety rules, such as requiring landlords to retrofit older buildings with sprinklers.
—Cathy Kozlowicz, jsonline.com, 25 Dec. 2025
Older buildings can be particularly expensive to retrofit for surveillance cameras, Kilfoyle said.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 18 Dec. 2025
Most of those projects are retrofitting existing buildings.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 16 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for retrofit
Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
The bills would give local governments the authority to set stricter fire safety rules, such as requiring landlords to retrofit older buildings with sprinklers.
—Cathy Kozlowicz, jsonline.com, 25 Dec. 2025
Older buildings can be particularly expensive to retrofit for surveillance cameras, Kilfoyle said.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 18 Dec. 2025
Most of those projects are retrofitting existing buildings.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 16 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for retrofit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retrofit
Verb
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According to a December Los Angeles Times analysis, fewer than 14 percent of homes destroyed in the Palisades have received permits to rebuild.—
Sarah Alegre,
FOXNews.com,
12 Jan. 2026
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Vinjamoori explains that while general recommendations for older adults often start lower, needs increase significantly if a person is active, recovering from illness, or trying to rebuild strength.—
Rachel Macpherson,
Outside,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Neutrality allowed the nation to build strength, expand westward, and avoid the ideological contagions sweeping the continent.—
Daniel Ross Goodman,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
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The expansion is part of Walmart’s plan announced in 2023 to build its own EV fast-charging network rather than leasing parking spaces to third-party operators.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Retrofit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retrofit. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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