retool

verb

re·​tool (ˌ)rē-ˈtül How to pronounce retool (audio)
retooled; retooling; retools
Synonyms of retoolnext

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
When Barrera was dropped from Scream 7, the film was retooled and did so without Ulrich and Barrera’s characters. — Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2026 After putting together a season nowhere close to his standard, Koepka took a month-long hiatus from competitive golf before electing to try and retool with some reps on the DP World Tour. — Mark Harris Outkick, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026 The director Elia Kazan took a stab, in 1955, by retooling just the final chapters as an angsty star vehicle for the teen heartthrob James Dean. — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 1 Oct. 2026 Mike McCarthy’s decision to retool the right side of the offensive line has paid immediate dividends. — The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for retool

Word History

First Known Use

1917, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of retool was in 1917

Rhymes for retool

See All Rhymes for retool

Browse Nearby Words

retonation wave
retool
retorsio facti
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Retool.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retool. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

retool

verb
re·​tool (ˈ)rē-ˈtül How to pronounce retool (audio)
1
: to equip again with new or different tools
retool a factory
2
: to make changes or improvements to
retool that idea

More from Merriam-Webster on retool

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