Standard Lemma guide

retrain

noun · verb · 4 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.

  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -eɪn
  • /ˈɹiːtɹeɪn/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • /ɹiːˈtɹeɪn/
  • CMU ARPABET: R IY0 T R EY1 N Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

An instance of training again.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To train again; especially, to train or study in a new subject or job

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: ambitransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

train again

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • He is retraining to become an IT worker

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: train, prepare

4

verb

Meaning 4

teach new skills

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • We must retrain the linguists who cannot find employment

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: train, develop, prepare, educate

History

Etymology

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

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: kouluttaa uudelleen — to train again
  • French: se recycler — to train again
  • French: se reconvertir — to train again
  • Italian: riqualificare — to train again
  • Polish: przekwalifikowywać się — to train again
  • Polish: przekwalifikować się — to train again
  • Spanish: capacitar — to train again