reinvent
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to invent again or anew, especially without knowing that the invention already exists.
-
to remake or make over, as in a different form.
At 60, he reinvented himself as a volunteer. We have an opportunity to reinvent government.
-
to bring back; revive.
to reinvent trust and accountability.
verb
-
to replace (a product, etc) with an entirely new version
-
to duplicate (something that already exists) in what is therefore a wasted effort (esp in the phrase reinvent the wheel )
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of reinvent
Explanation
To reinvent something is to completely change or remake it so thoroughly that it seems brand new. The driverless car is going to reinvent the way people think about driving. When the earliest movies with sound were released, it seemed to reinvent film. And, when libraries started incorporating more technology and getting rid of card catalogs, they reinvented research. You can also literally reinvent something, by bringing it back: "They plan to reinvent their grandmother's lost recipe for homemade root beer." To "reinvent the wheel" means to do something redundantly — to waste time on something that's already been done.
Vocabulary lists containing reinvent
Words for a New Year
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Selection Vocabulary 4, Unit 5
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Wrong Way Home
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Brittin said the BBC had "proved throughout its history how quickly it can reinvent itself to serve the needs of audiences".
From Barron's • May 18, 2026
Can Mamata Banerjee reinvent herself once more - returning to the streets as the furious outsider who first captured Bengal's imagination?
From BBC • May 5, 2026
GameStop has puzzled the market with its ambitious bid to reinvent its business by acquiring eBay for $55.5 billion.
From MarketWatch • May 4, 2026
The Palo Alto company wants to reinvent the battery-driven bicycle using a powerful generator and software to change the look, feel and capabilities of two-wheelers.
From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026
He used his stay in prison to reinvent the concept of a point at infinity, and combining it with Monge’s work, he became the first true projective geometer.
From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife
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.
