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

See Examples For:

reimagine

"Disney spent $250 million to reimagine the oceanic-set movie, so 'Moana' will struggle to swim to profitability in its theatrical run," commented Variety.

From Barron's ● Jul. 26, 2026

"We took a hard look at ourselves and realised we needed to reset and reimagine this Games so it is an attractive proposition for our members."

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

Big Shot plans to reimagine the high-pitched crew for audiences that consume content overwhelmingly on digital-first platforms, such as YouTube.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

The office has an uncertain future because Gov. Gavin Newsom is pushing a proposal to reimagine the office and redistribute some of its duties.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 3, 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