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

James Kingett, from SRTRC, said the charity had also lost a significant number of local authority contracts after austerity measures saw many councils repurpose funding.

From BBC ● May 26, 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

Many of those walk-in centres were subsequently either shut down or repurposed into other services such as emergency care centres.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 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

The work may also help researchers identify existing drugs that could be repurposed for Alzheimer's disease and other dementias driven by tau.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 20, 2026

In those solo presentations, Usha Seejarim’s conceptual sculptures and wall works examined gender and sexuality through repurposed objects, and Mmangaliso Nzuza’s biographical paintings infused Western art history with African trends.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026

They’re named Alicia and Lyon, and Lyon keeps using words like repurposed and sustainable.

From "Leah on the Offbeat" by Becky Albertalli

Sixty years ago, race engineer Colin Chapman moved Lotus Cars to Hethel, England, repurposing the nearby WWII-era airfield as a test circuit.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026

China’s quick-commerce market, repurposing food-delivery networks for rapid urban retail, is projected to reach $126.7 billion by 2029.

From Barron's ● May 23, 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

Ford plans to invest $2 billion over the next two years to develop the business, partially by repurposing a battery plant in Kentucky.

From MarketWatch ● May 13, 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