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

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

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026

Counterintuitively, this means that organizations like Cornerstone can repurpose older silicon manufacturing equipment used for earlier generations of processors.

From BBC ● Sep. 22, 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

The federal Bureau of Land Management released documents Thursday saying the company’s plan to repurpose 162 miles of the pipeline to transport water “will not significantly affect” the environment.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 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

Now, their iconic imagery has been repurposed as chintzy merch and wine mom–style decor.

From Slate ● Sep. 15, 2026

And in 2017, he repurposed his mostly unused Los Angeles painting studio and launched a residency program for artists called Appointment Only, where he also hosted a series of art shows.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026

Features inherited from aquatic ancestors were retained, repurposed, simplified, and eventually lost as insects became increasingly adapted to terrestrial life.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 27, 2026

At the time, it said it had repurposed a building in order to produce the unmanned aircraft as part of a £200m investment.

From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026

So many died that the tumbrils used to cart thieves to the gallows were repurposed to carry orphans to the monasteries and convents.

From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor

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

"This suggests that repurposing medications that augment the function of dopamine-releasing neurons, including dopamine precursors and inhibitors of dopamine metabolism, could be a promising approach."

From Science Daily ● Sep. 22, 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