reimagine

American  

[ree-i-maj-in] / ˌri ɪˈmædʒ ɪn /

verb (used with object)

1. to think about or consider in a new and creative way: Each of the forty short stories reimagines a moment from the original film, but through the eyes of a supporting character.

   For decades, Walt Disney would strive to reimagine the typical amusement park as a theme park, an idealized salute to America's past and a nod to an experimental vision for its future.

   Each of the forty short stories reimagines a moment from the original film, but through the eyes of a supporting character.

2. to create or imagine a new lifestyle or identity for (oneself).

   It was a song written to help him transform and reimagine himself in the aftermath of his parent's divorce.

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Etymology

Origin of reimagine

First recorded in 1825–30; re- ( def. ) + imagine ( def. )

Explanation

To reimagine is to have a new idea about something familiar. If you've always thought one way about what something means, what it's worth, or how it could be made — but now you see it differently — you've begun to reimagine it. Perhaps you can't imagine your piano lessons ever being worth your time. But if you go to a concert and listen to your favorite pop artist jamming on the keyboard, you might reimagine their value! A young child might make up a silly story about a rhinoceros who wants to be a mouse. As an adult writer, that former child may reimagine the story into a fable about how a rhinoceros learns to understand his own worth rather than longing to be different.

Example Sentences

The arrival of social media forced operators to reimagine the word-of-mouth approach.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

Gatherings like Munich are an opportunity to reimagine these structures of cooperation and develop new strategies to meet the challenges of the moment.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 25, 2026

Dreamland Margate announced on Tuesday the Grade II* listed wooden ride was no longer viable saying it wanted to "reimagine the rollercoaster's purpose" and was asking the public for ideas.

From BBC • Jan. 29, 2026

Now, with the site up for sale, the city of Pico Rivera is vying for a chance to reimagine it.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 28, 2026

He closed his eyes and tried to reimagine this spacious room with the alien furniture, but he couldn’t.

From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie