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. )

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

"One potential future direction is to repurpose these drugs to target overactivation of glial cells and perhaps reverse some of the phenotypes in tauopathies"

From Science Daily ● Jul. 20, 2026

It would only take a minor investment to repurpose some of that engine capacity for data centers, according to the report.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026

Essentially, the auto maker will repurpose battery capacity once destined for EVs into backup power packs for utilities and data centers.

From Barron's ● May 28, 2026

Historic England ran a four-year programme to repurpose derelict and underused buildings as community spaces such as cinemas and market halls, and run cultural events, while in Walsall a £1.5bn regeneration project is planned.

From BBC ● May 2, 2026

I dismantled my sleeping nest to repurpose its branches and hewed off additional ones from nearby trees.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo

There are eight fewer sports involved compared to 2014, given the short build-up, and venues from 12 years ago have been repurposed.

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

Working in food, my office is quite literally the kitchen: I write at a repurposed steel prep table, with my laptop on top and Dutch ovens stored below, that sits directly beside the stove.

From Salon ● Jul. 21, 2026

Sports are ideal for new video and communication technologies, as athletic performance is measured by statistics, and that data can be tabulated, synthesized and repurposed for viewers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026

But it was also repurposed for the additional need of supporting our body weight vertically and maintaining our center of gravity, while still allowing the flexibility for us to move.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 11, 2026

We loaded up with every available weapon, mostly bows and arrows pulled taut with young wood and reinforced with repurposed wire.

From "The Marrow Thieves" by Cherie Dimaline

The Bureau of Land Management said in its authorization that repurposing the pipeline for water “would comply with all applicable statutes and regulations.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026

“It is a true repurposing of excess battery cell capacity,” said James Picariello, head of U.S. autos research at BNP Paribas.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 27, 2026

This would be achieved by "repurposing plants", such as in Poissy outside the French capital, and "leveraging partnerships" such as in Madrid and Zaragoza in Spain, as well as Rennes in western France, it said.

From Barron's ● May 21, 2026

"We have learned things from the pandemic, particularly around the benefit of repurposing known drugs to treat infections," she said.

From BBC ● May 14, 2026

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

From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng

Related Words

• reuse