Standard Lemma guide

repurpose

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ɹiːˈpɜː.pəs/
  • Canada, General-American: /ɹiˈpɝ.pəs/
  • Australian: /ɹiːˈpɜː.pəs/
  • Queensland Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • New-Zealand: /ɹiːˈpøː.pəs/

1

verb

Meaning 1

To reuse for a different purpose, on a long-term basis, with or without alteration.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The town common was repurposed as a practice field.
  • The church was repurposed as a nightclub by lighting changes and removing the pews, but it never opened.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Italic *wre- Latin re-der. Old French re-bor. Middle English re- English re- English purpose English repurpose From re- + purpose.

Across languages

Translations

22 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: hergebruiken — reuse with or without alteration — see also alter, convert, transform
  • Dutch: inzetten — reuse with or without alteration — see also alter, convert, transform
  • Dutch: herbestemmen — reuse with or without alteration — see also alter, convert, transform
  • Esperanto: aliuzi — reuse with or without alteration — see also alter, convert, transform
  • Esperanto: reutiligi — reuse with or without alteration — see also alter, convert, transform
  • Finnish: kierrättää — reuse with or without alteration — see also alter, convert, transform
  • Finnish: ottaa parempaan käyttöön — reuse with or without alteration — see also alter, convert, transform
  • French: réaffecter — reuse with or without alteration — see also alter, convert, transform
  • French: réutiliser — reuse with or without alteration — see also alter, convert, transform
  • French: redéfinir — reuse with or without alteration — see also alter, convert, transform
  • German: umnutzen — reuse with or without alteration — see also alter, convert, transform
  • German: umfunktionieren — reuse with or without alteration — see also alter, convert, transform
  • Italian: riutilizzare — reuse with or without alteration — see also alter, convert, transform
  • Polish: zmieniać przeznaczenie — reuse with or without alteration — see also alter, convert, transform
  • Polish: zmienić przeznaczenie — reuse with or without alteration — see also alter, convert, transform
  • Portuguese: reutilizar — reuse with or without alteration — see also alter, convert, transform
  • Romanian: reutiliza — reuse with or without alteration — see also alter, convert, transform
  • Russian: перенацелить (perenacelitʹ) — reuse with or without alteration — see also alter, convert, transform
  • Spanish: reconvertir — reuse with or without alteration — see also alter, convert, transform
  • Spanish: readaptar — reuse with or without alteration — see also alter, convert, transform
  • Spanish: retransformar — reuse with or without alteration — see also alter, convert, transform
  • Spanish: reutilizar — reuse with or without alteration — see also alter, convert, transform