relocate
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
verb
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to move or be moved to a new place, esp (of an employee, a business, etc) to a new area or place of employment
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(intr) (of an employee, a business, etc) to move for reasons of business to a new area or place of employment
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of relocate
Explanation
When you relocate, you move to a new location and settle into a new place. If you live in New York City but you get a job in Phoenix, you'll have to relocate to Arizona to start your new career. The word relocate came into English in the 1800s from re, meaning "back, again," and locate, meaning "to settle." Relocate refers not only to moving to a new place but also to establishing yourself there. It typically involves finding a new place to live, making new friends, finding your way around your new town or city — even getting cable TV installed. For some people, this can be an exciting adventure; for others, it's a daunting challenge of to-do lists.
Vocabulary lists containing relocate
"When Cultures Meet"
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Word Generation Weekly - Series 1
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Cormac McCarthy's "The Road"
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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.
Crow, 64, bought both properties through a trust managed by her longtime financial manager—having chosen to relocate from a remote 150-acre farm to the Nashville estate when her children were getting ready to start preschool.
From MarketWatch • May 18, 2026
An anonymous crew member claimed on Facebook that government restrictions had forced production to relocate from Venice Beach.
From Los Angeles Times • May 17, 2026
This time around, many of the affected staff have been asked to relocate to Walmart’s Bentonville or Northern California offices, said the people familiar with the situation.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 12, 2026
Residents and businesses still rely on septic tanks, and locals say larger businesses have been hesitant to relocate there because of the lack of sewer service.
From Salon • May 3, 2026
That’s 625 kids and 175 class periods to relocate.
From "Tangerine" by Edward Bloor
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.
