readjust
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of readjust
Explanation
You could readjust your TV antenna, your thinking, or the collar of your shirt. Whatever it is, when you readjust something, you make slight changes again and again until you get it right. When you adjust something, you make a change in order to improve something, such as a driver adjusting the side-view mirror on a car in order to see other cars better. So, when you add the prefix re-, it means "to adjust over and over." In the case of the mirror, you would readjust its angle until you can see perfectly well from your seat in the car.
Vocabulary lists containing readjust
Power Prefix: re-
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Prefixes: re-
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Power Prefix: Re-
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That could lead to heightened volatility as traders readjust their positions, particularly during a time of geopolitical uncertainty.
From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026
As for Contreras, he is scheduled to start again for Blessed Trinity next Tuesday, leaving him in the unusual position of needing to readjust to regular old high-school baseball after pitching against MLB All-Stars.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026
The Lakers have used 16 different starting lineups in 29 games and have to readjust their rotation again in Reaves’ absence.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 27, 2025
“Giving it for two years, or whatever, and then abruptly stopping it, instead of phasing it down… that could have helped families prepare to readjust and rethink,” he said in 2023.
From Salon • Sep. 11, 2025
Mr. Taylor remained exactly in the same position he had taken when he arrived, like a person too cold to readjust his body even to get closer to the fire.
From "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
