redouble

[ree-duhb-uh l]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR redouble ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), re·dou·bled, re·dou·bling.

to double; make twice as great: to redouble one's efforts.

to echo or reecho.

Bridge. to double the double of (an opponent).

to go back over: to redouble one's footsteps.

Archaic. to repeat.

verb (used without object), re·dou·bled, re·dou·bling.

to be doubled; become twice as great.

to be echoed; resound.

Bridge. to double the double of an opponent.

noun

Bridge. the act of doubling one's opponent's double.

Fencing. an attack in a line other than that of the previous attack, made after the failure of the opponent to follow his or her parry of the previous attack with a riposte.

Origin of redouble

From the Middle French word redoubler, dating back to 1470–80. See re-, double

Related formsre·dou·bler, noun

Can be confusedredouble reduplicate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for redouble

strengthen, enhance, intensify, reinforce, heighten, increase, grow, magnify, raise, retrace, repeat, augment

Examples from the Web for redouble

Contemporary Examples of redouble

NBC was right to clarify its policies and redouble its efforts to make sure they are followed.
Planned Parenthood: Why NBC's Abortion Ad Snafu Matters
Eric Ferrero
June 25, 2014
Fourth, international efforts in support of a peace process must redouble.
Preventing Genocide In South Sudan
Eric Reeves, John Prendergast
April 29, 2014
“Now we will redouble our efforts as more Afghans rally to our cause to fight the remaining invaders,” he adds.
Taliban Slams Loya Jirga Bilateral Security Agreement
Ron Moreau & Sami Yousafzai
November 26, 2013
As we stand united with their families, let us now redouble our own efforts to carry their work forward.
Attacks on American Consulate in Libya kill four, including American Ambassador
Justin Green
September 12, 2012
These changes at home initially make him redouble the repression of his family.
Cairo, Revisited: How Naguib Mahfouz Predicted the Future of Egypt
Joel Whitney
July 22, 2012

Historical Examples of redouble

Yet with them grew my sense of need to redouble a lover's diligence.
The Cavalier
George Washington Cable
Lieutenant Abbot, on the other hand, appeared to redouble his deep interest.
A War-Time Wooing
Charles King
To redouble the certainty of their truth every time one thinks of them.
The Autobiography of Madame Guyon
Jeanne Marie Bouvier de La Motte Guyon
On the contrary, he seemed to redouble his efforts to mortify his son.
Tancred
Benjamin Disraeli
Determination to win made Madge and Phil redouble their efforts.
Madge Morton's Secret
Amy D. V. Chalmers

British Dictionary definitions for redouble

redouble

verb

to make or become much greater in intensity, number, etcto redouble one's efforts

to send back (sounds) or (of sounds) to be sent back; echo or re-echo

bridge to double (an opponent's double)

noun

the act of redoubling

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

Word Origin and History for redouble

mid-15c., "double again, multiply" (trans.), from Middle French redoubler, from Old French re- "again" (see re-) + doubler "to double" (see double (v.)). Meaning "become twice as much" (intrans.) is from late 15c. Related: Redoubled; redoubling.