as in rebuilding
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 retrofitting
Walmart has been retrofitting dozens of distribution centers with robotics and automation technologies in recent years, with a target completion date of 2030.
—
Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 2 Apr. 2026
Ross saved the Miami Open, moving it from a dilapidated Key Biscayne venue, and retrofitting Hard Rock Stadium’s grounds for it.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026
With $85 billion in new funding — and around $45 billion specifically earmarked for immigration detention — Immigration and Customs Enforcement is swiftly leasing warehouses and retrofitting them for detention.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 23 Mar. 2026
Additionally, reaching the final stages of net-zero action will require electrification across more of the manufacturing floor and systems, which will necessitate investment in retrofitting or acquiring new machines.
—Sj Studio, Sourcing Journal, 19 Mar. 2026
But retrofitting these systems across large existing fleets remains slow and expensive.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 12 Mar. 2026
There’s a growing trend of Charlotteans transforming their formal dining rooms or retrofitting an unused space to create mahjong parlors, Axios previously reported.
—Charlotte Observer, 1 Mar. 2026
Allen was registered undecided on the bill, but said the deadlines might not be feasible because the utilities have to get approval from FAA and the Federal Communications Commission, which can slow down retrofitting.
—Cami Koons, Iowa Capital Dispatch, 17 Feb. 2026
This can be done in different ways, such as retrofitting a facility to emit directly into a storage location or by building vacuumlike structures to suck up emissions.
—ABC News, 17 Feb. 2026
Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 2 Apr. 2026
Ross saved the Miami Open, moving it from a dilapidated Key Biscayne venue, and retrofitting Hard Rock Stadium’s grounds for it.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026
With $85 billion in new funding — and around $45 billion specifically earmarked for immigration detention — Immigration and Customs Enforcement is swiftly leasing warehouses and retrofitting them for detention.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 23 Mar. 2026
Additionally, reaching the final stages of net-zero action will require electrification across more of the manufacturing floor and systems, which will necessitate investment in retrofitting or acquiring new machines.
—Sj Studio, Sourcing Journal, 19 Mar. 2026
But retrofitting these systems across large existing fleets remains slow and expensive.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 12 Mar. 2026
There’s a growing trend of Charlotteans transforming their formal dining rooms or retrofitting an unused space to create mahjong parlors, Axios previously reported.
—Charlotte Observer, 1 Mar. 2026
Allen was registered undecided on the bill, but said the deadlines might not be feasible because the utilities have to get approval from FAA and the Federal Communications Commission, which can slow down retrofitting.
—Cami Koons, Iowa Capital Dispatch, 17 Feb. 2026
This can be done in different ways, such as retrofitting a facility to emit directly into a storage location or by building vacuumlike structures to suck up emissions.
—ABC News, 17 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retrofitting
Verb
-
And its workforce carries skills and experience that could contribute to rebuilding a modern economy if properly reintegrated.—
Oscar de la Rosa,
Boston Herald,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The Avalanche had a random quirk in the schedule Monday night, and a game that carried a little more consequence than a typical late-season contest against a rebuilding club.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The report suggested either adding event space or building a sports complex nearby.—
Mark Dee
April 1,
Idaho Statesman,
1 Apr. 2026
-
While students are surrounded by technology, teachers say that exposure alone is not building the kind of skills needed for academic or professional environments.—
Darlin Tillery,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Retrofitting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retrofitting. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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