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

“Set high above the Sunset Strip with sweeping panoramic views, this iconic estate presents a rare opportunity to reimagine and build something truly remarkable in one of Los Angeles’ most coveted enclaves.”

From MarketWatch • Jun. 3, 2026

Like Versace, they could claim her and reimagine her on their own terms.

From Salon • May 17, 2026

It’s lively and funny, but it doesn’t reimagine the film or fully recreate its propulsive energy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

Production companies, Rambert and Factory International, have revealed the TV producer will be teaming up with the pop duo to reimagine It's A Sin as an immersive, theatrical performance.

From BBC • Mar. 19, 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