realign
Britishverb
Explanation
When you realign something, you return it to a former position or place. If you break your arm roller skating, a doctor will have to set the bone, or realign it, before she puts on a cast. We realign things physically when we line them back up or restore them to a previous balance. The alignment on your car is what makes it drive straight — all four wheels should be perfectly lined up. If they're not, a mechanic can realign them. We can also realign things figuratively, like when a political party realigns itself, or attempts to line its positions up with what's important to voters.
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.
"It certainly propels you into a world of uncertainty. Life priorities realign - you simply want to survive."
From BBC ● May 30, 2026
The company is reducing and restructuring roles across the company to optimize operations and realign the company toward a new brand-centric operating model, a Mattel spokesperson told The Times.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 30, 2026
The Chinese government on Wednesday said Its exports exceeded imports by $1.19 trillion, up almost 20% year over year and demonstrating China’s ability to realign its export markets.
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 14, 2026
China is attempting to realign its economy away from investment and real estate ownership toward sustainable growth and consumption.
From Barron's ● Jan. 9, 2026
I freed a few bricks, preparing to realign the wall.
From "The Rock and the River" by Kekla Magoon
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.
