repurpose

American  

[ree-pur-puhs] / ˌriˈpɜr pəs /

verb (used with object)

repurposed, repurposing

1. to adapt or utilize (something) for a new purpose.

   The objective is to create affordable housing by repurposing abandoned commercial properties.

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Etymology

Origin of repurpose

First recorded in 1980–85; re- ( def. ) + purpose ( def. )

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Explanation

When you repurpose something, you use it again in an entirely new way. You might decide to repurpose rinsed-out yogurt containers to grow flower seedlings on your windowsill. When you adapt anything to a new function, you repurpose it, from the newspaper you repurpose to line your hamster's cage to the old tablet your dad has repurposed for reading recipes in the kitchen while he cooks. In technology, this verb is often used for information that's used again in updated formats. The word first appeared around 1983, from re-, "anew," and purpose, "to have as an objective or intention."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

repurpose repurposed repurposing

The ceramicist also said there were a lot of derelict chapels across Wales and "we need to repurpose these buildings and give them a new lease of life".

From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2026

Crafty folks will often repurpose pianos for $100 to $500 or so.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026

Our own A.I. policy preference is that the government should unplug it, then repurpose gigantic data centers into the biggest Chili’s franchises you’ve ever seen.

From Slate ● Sep. 12, 2026

It says this strategy makes clinical trials more commercially viable than the traditional route of trying to repurpose generics for anti-aging.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 7, 2026

“I just remember the classic Roach Motel slogan that, apparently, the poster is attempting to repurpose for a Latinx audience. Catch you later, Kojo!”

From "The Smartest Kid in the Universe" by Chris Grabenstein

The agency repurposed material originally developed for World Toilet Day, which falls on Nov. 19.

From Salon ● Oct. 31, 2026

Although the room has since been repurposed, architectural features associated with its former use remain.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 19, 2026

Gleaning Cornwall started in 2020 and said it had repurposed more than 460 tonnes of produce since then.

From BBC ● Oct. 18, 2026

That raises the possibility that medications acting on the same pathway might eventually be repurposed to address oligodendrocyte dysfunction and age-related cognitive decline.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 17, 2026

He placed a cushion on the operating table, which was really just a desk repurposed from the former school, and I laid the bonobo down on it.

From "Endangered" by Eliot Schrefer

Guido Broekhoven from nature conservation organisation WWF International told AFP that repurposing subsidies must be "a matter of priority" at COP17.

From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2026

In Senegal, fishmeal has put local fishers out of work, so they increasingly are selling — or repurposing — their boats to ferry migrants to Spain’s Canary Islands, a stepping stone to Europe.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026

A huge union jack artwork has been created by repurposing discarded flags from unauthorised lamp-post displays as a message of "unity".

From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026

"Additionally, our study suggests potential therapeutic opportunities to expedite this process, such as repurposing drugs like SGLT2 inhibitors, which have shown promise in reducing inflammation and promoting immune-mediated clearance of senescent cells in obesity."

From Science Daily ● Sep. 2, 2026

They had very little, but that wasn’t immediately obvious: Mia was good at repurposing.

From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng

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Related Words

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