Standard Lemma guide

rework

noun · verb · 7 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.

  • /ˈɹiːwɜː(ɹ)k/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • /ɹiːˈwɜː(ɹ)k/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)k
  • CMU ARPABET: R IY0 W ER1 K Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The act of redoing, correcting, or rebuilding.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Taking unsaleable food and using it in the manufacture of other food.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: business, food, lifestyle, manufacturing

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Something redone, corrected or rebuilt.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Examples

  • They received the rework back from the shop.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

Work done to correct defects associated with a deliverable product, plus any root cause analysis effort to identify the task(s) to be re-performed.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Examples

  • The schedule has been pushed back because of the rework.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

An instance of reworking.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

To redo, correct, or rebuild.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • You'll have to rework the crank assembly to incorporate the changes.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

use again in altered form

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • retread an old plot

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: make over, retread

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: work, work on, process

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Italic *wre- Latin re-der. Old French re-bor. Middle English re- English re- Proto-Indo-European *werǵ- Proto-Indo-European *-om Proto-Indo-European *wérǵom Proto-Germanic *werką Proto-West Germanic *werk Old English weorc Middle English werk English work English rework From re- + work.