Standard Lemma guide

retool

verb · 3 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.

  • rē-to͞ol
  • /riːˈtuːl/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Northern-Ireland, Scotland: /riˈtʉl/
  • rhymes with -uːl
  • CMU ARPABET: R IY0 T UW1 L Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To adjust; to optimize; to rebuild.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • He decided it was time to retool last year's marketing brochure.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

provide (a workshop or factory) with new tools

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: substitute, replace, interchange, exchange

3

verb

Meaning 3

revise or reorganize, especially for the purpose of updating and improving

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • We must retool the town's economy

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: revise

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: reorganize, reorganise, shake up

History

Etymology

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

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • German: umrüsten — to adjust, to rebuild
  • German: umstellen — to adjust, to rebuild
  • Polish: przeorganizowywać — to adjust, to rebuild
  • Polish: przeorganizować — to adjust, to rebuild
  • Spanish: modificar el utillaje — to adjust, to rebuild