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Synonyms

reshape

American  
[ree-sheyp] / riˈʃeɪp /

verb (used with object)

  • reshapes,
    present (3rd person singular)
  • reshaped,
    past participle,  past
  • reshaping
    present participle
  1. to shape again or into different form.


reshape British  
/ riːˈʃeɪp /

verb

  1. to shape (something) again or differently

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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Inflected Forms

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Present

Past

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Etymology

Origin of reshape

First recorded in 1820–30; re- + shape

Explanation

When you reshape something, you change or transform it completely. You can reshape a lump of clay, but you can also reshape your plans for your life. A government can reshape the country's energy plan, incorporating more environmentally friendly systems. And a school committee can reshape the high school curriculum, adding higher-level science classes and more choices in the art department. It's also possible to reshape things in a more literal way, squeezing bread dough as you reshape it to fit a different pan, for example.

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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.

See Examples For:

Executives predict the technology will reshape the world of retail investing.

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 6, 2026

Meanwhile, the food industry has tried to keep up with consumers’ interests in things like protein and fiber, as wellness trends and increased GLP-1 use reshape diets.

From MarketWatch Sep. 3, 2026

The seismic shifts in pop culture made something like Garfunkelpalooza feel silly, while culture publications and the wider social internet will regularly reshape entire weeks around the release of Beyoncé’s latest album.

From Salon Aug. 29, 2026

The findings could reshape how scientists think about the origins of major ice ages.

From Science Daily Aug. 25, 2026

I was trying to gradually reshape that image.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey

But Lord, now the studio's creative director, still comes into the office and playfully reshapes Morph while chatting.

From BBC Sep. 4, 2026

The president has weighed in on paving stones, marble, flagpoles and other aesthetic details around the White House as he reshapes the presidential grounds.

From Salon Aug. 9, 2026

“The bottom line is that the market is clearly favoring foundational security and infrastructure layers over legacy applications as artificial intelligence reshapes software business models.”

From MarketWatch Jul. 27, 2026

Building on earlier work showing that a first pregnancy reshapes the brain, the researchers found that each pregnancy leaves its own unique imprint on the maternal brain.

From Science Daily Jul. 11, 2026

He reshapes the world until it appears connected, because that helps us to foresee the effects of every event and teaches us to master nature so that we can use it for our practical achievements.

From The Photoplay A Psychological Study by Hugo Münsterberg

An international team led by the University of Bern has found evidence that a single asteroid collision may have dramatically reshaped Deimos, the smaller of Mars' two moons.

From Science Daily Aug. 26, 2026

Here are three ways that Americans’ auto loans have been reshaped in recent years — starting with the amount of money going toward these loans.

From MarketWatch Aug. 13, 2026

He says attachment is often reshaped during periods of transition, particularly during adolescence, when young people begin forming close relationships beyond their family.

From BBC Jul. 28, 2026

While Kennedy describes himself at times as a small-town lawyer from Sacramento, he knew the two California governors, both Republicans, who reshaped the Supreme Court.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 26, 2026

The song cut off, and my haptic chair reshaped and reoriented itself, transforming from a bed back into its chair configuration, lifting me into a sitting position as it did so.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline

The researchers also suggest that engaging in creative work could help strengthen neural networks involved in controlling attention, potentially reshaping patterns associated with impulsivity and hyperactivity.

From Science Daily Sep. 3, 2026

Josh Levin explains why Eala has inspired such strong devotion among fans, and how she’s reshaping the game in her image.

From Slate Sep. 1, 2026

The defence boom highlights how the Ukraine war is reshaping attitudes towards the industry in Germany, long regarded with suspicion by many due to the country's dark World War II history.

From Barron's Sep. 1, 2026

Advancements in AI tools have also been reshaping jobs, especially in Silicon Valley, the epicenter of the tech industry.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 27, 2026

Thomas had been smoothing the tiny rough spots from the worn, ancient carvings and reshaping the infinitesimally small edges and curves.

From "Gathering Blue" by Lois Lowry

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