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. )

Example Sentences

Struggling German carmaker Volkswagen is in talks with defence firms to repurpose a plant in northern Germany for the production of military transport equipment, the firm's boss said Friday.

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

Instead, it will repurpose some of them to help power microgrids for customers like AI-infrastructure firm Crusoe.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 28, 2026

Researchers discovered how to strip away HIV’s destructive genes and repurpose it as a “lentiviral vector”—a tool to deliver therapeutic genes directly to cells and integrate them into a patient’s DNA.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 1, 2026

"The company has unveiled proposals to repurpose existing infrastructure and grid links at its Yorkshire power station to make its own contribution to the growth of AI," he said.

From BBC • Dec. 11, 2025

“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

Related Words

• reuse