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Synonyms

relocate

American  
[ree-loh-keyt, ree-loh-keyt] / riˈloʊ keɪt, ˌri loʊˈkeɪt /

verb (used with object)

relocates, present (3rd person singular) relocated, past participle, past relocating present participle
  1. to move (a building, company, etc.) to a different location.

    plans to relocate the firm to Houston.


verb (used without object)

relocates, present (3rd person singular) relocated, past participle, past relocating present participle
  1. to change one's residence or place of business; move.

    Next year we may relocate to Denver.

relocate British  
/ ˌriːləʊˈkeɪt /

verb

  1. to move or be moved to a new place, esp (of an employee, a business, etc) to a new area or place of employment

  2. (intr) (of an employee, a business, etc) to move for reasons of business to a new area or place of employment

"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

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Etymology

Origin of relocate

An Americanism dating back to 1825–35; re- + locate

Explanation

When you relocate, you move to a new location and settle into a new place. If you live in New York City but you get a job in Phoenix, you'll have to relocate to Arizona to start your new career. The word relocate came into English in the 1800s from re, meaning "back, again," and locate, meaning "to settle." Relocate refers not only to moving to a new place but also to establishing yourself there. It typically involves finding a new place to live, making new friends, finding your way around your new town or city — even getting cable TV installed. For some people, this can be an exciting adventure; for others, it's a daunting challenge of to-do lists.

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Vocabulary lists containing relocate

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.

She went on to share that her close friends, Meme Shahan and Hailee Clark, will soon relocate to the compound, where she also plans to help care for their animals.

From MarketWatch • Jul. 4, 2026

Most will relocate to Hollywood Park while others will move to a Disney location in Glendale, Calif.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 1, 2026

They said some talented engineers and young workers wouldn’t want to relocate so far from the capital.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 29, 2026

But without incentives for companies to voluntarily relocate, the massive investment could backfire, warned Kim Dae-jong, a professor of Business Administration at Sejong University.

From Barron's • Jun. 29, 2026

So precious did European axes become during this time, according to Brian Ferguson, an anthropologist at Rutgers University, that when a source appeared the Yanomami would relocate whole villages to be near it.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

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