re

1 of 4

noun

ˈrā

: the second note of the major scale in solfège

2 of 4

prefix

: again : anew

retell

: back : backward

recall

Example Sentences

Noun do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti

Recent Examples on the Web

Preposition

That’s encouraging news for the Roy CEOs, who haven’t had much success swaying Nate re: regulation. —

Lauren Puckett-pope, ELLE, 9 May 2023 See above, re: unbeaten Power Five champions. —

Ralph D. Russo, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2022 At press time spokespeople for Offset and J. Prince had not returned re Billboard‘s request for comment. —

Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 6 Feb. 2023 Wisconsin Center, 400 W. Wisconsin Ave. www.midwestgamingclassic.com re:Craft and Relic: Spring Market with vendors, live music, food trucks and mobile boutiques, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. April 15-16. —

Elaine Rewolinski, Journal Sentinel, 29 Mar. 2023 Ireturn herewith unsigned and disapproved Docket #0135, Petition for a Special Law re: An Act Relative to the Reorganizationof the Boston School Committee, amending Chapter 108 of the Actsof 1991. —

Christopher Huffaker, BostonGlobe.com, 17 Feb. 2023 More than 150 vendors will be on hand with handmade items, artisan foods, fine art, vintage goods and more at re:Craft and Relic's winter market this weekend at the Milwaukee County Sports Complex, 6000 W. Ryan Road, Franklin. —

Chris Foran, Journal Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2023 Depending on your own position re masking, Parker’s casual, too-cool-for-quarantine attitude may trigger certain judgments — or identification. —

Peter Debruge, Variety, 13 Jan. 2023 Depending on the state, these individuals are either appointed by the governor (see above re: importance) or elected. —

Heather Souvaine Horn, The New Republic, 21 Oct. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 're.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Medieval Latin, from the syllable sung to this note in a medieval hymn to St. John the Baptist

Preposition

Latin, ablative of res thing — more at real

Prefix

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin re-, red- back, again, against

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Preposition

1707, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of re was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century

Phrases Containing re

Cite this Entry

Style

“Re.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/re. Accessed 8 Jun. 2023.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

1 of 2 noun

ˈrā

: the second note of the musical scale

re-

2 of 2 prefix

(ˈ)rē,

before ˈ,

-stressed syllable, (ˌ)rē,

before ˌ,

-stressed syllable, ˌrē,

before unstressed syllable

: again

refill

: back : backward

recall

Words from re-

reacquire, reactivate, reactivation, readdress, readjust, readjustment, readmission, readmit, readopt, reaffirm, reanalysis, reanalyze, reanimate, reanimation, reappear, reappearance, reapplication, reapply, reappoint, reappointment, reappraisal, reappraise, reapprove, reargue, rearrest, reassemble, reassembly, reassess, reassessment, reassign, reassignment, reattach, reattachment, reawaken, rebalance, rebaptism, rebaptize, rebid, reboil, reboot, rebroadcast, reburial, rebury, rebuy, recalculate, recalculation, rechannel, recharter, recheck, recolor, recommission, recompile, recomputation, recompute, reconceive, reconcentrate, reconcentration, reconception, recondense, reconnect, reconnection, reconquer, reconquest, reconsecrate, reconsecration, recontact, recontaminate, recontamination, reconvene, recopy, recross, recut, rededicate, rededication, redeliver, redelivery, redeposit, redigestion, rediscover, rediscovery, redispose, redissolve, redistill, redivide, redivision, redraft, redraw, reeligibility, reeligible, reemerge, reemergence, reemission, reemit, reemphasis, reemphasize, reenergize, reenlist, reenlistment, reenroll, reequip, reestablish, reestablishment, reevaluate, reevaluation, reexamination, reexamine, reexplore, reface, refinance, refind, refix, refloat, refold, reformat, refreeze, refurnish, regather, regild, regive, regrade, regrind, rehandle, rehear, reheat, reimpose, reimposition, reincorporate, reincorporation, reinjure, reinsert, reinsertion, reinstall, reintroduce, reintroduction, reinvade, reinvasion, rekindle, relaunch, relearn, relight, reload, remeasure, remeasurement, remelt, remix, remold, rename, renumber, reoccupy, reoccur, reoccurrence, reorient, reorientate, reorientation, repack, repaint, repeople, rephotograph, rephrase, replay, repopulate, reprice, repurchase, reread, rerecord, reroll, resaw, reschedule, rescore, reseal, resealable, reseat, resell, resettle, resew, reshow, resow, restage, restock, restrengthen, restudy, restyle, resubmission, resubmit, resummon, resupply, resurvey, resynthesis, resynthesize, retag, retaste, reteach, retest, retie, retransmission, retransmit, retry, retype, reunification, reunify, rewash, reweave, reweigh, rewire

Etymology

Prefix

derived from Latin re-, red- "again, back, against"