restructure

American  

[ree-struhk-cher] / riˈstrʌk tʃər /

verb (used with object)

restructures, present (3rd person singular) restructured, past participle, past restructuring present participle

1. to change, alter, or restore the structure of.

   to restructure a broken nose.

2. to effect a fundamental change in (as an organization or system).

3. to recombine (bits of inexpensive meats), especially by mechanical means, into simulated steaks, fillets, etc.

---

verb (used without object)

restructures, present (3rd person singular) restructured, past participle, past restructuring present participle

1. to restructure something.

noun

1. the act or an instance of restructuring.

restructure British  

/ riːˈstrʌktʃə /

verb

1. (tr) to organize (a system, business, society, etc) in a different way

   radical attempts to restructure the economy

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• restructuring
  noun
• restructurer
  noun

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has restructured
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have restructured
  perfect
• have been restructuring
  perfect progressive
• am restructuring
  progressive 1st person singular
• restructures
  singular 3rd person
• is restructuring
  progressive 3rd person singular
• are restructuring
  progressive
• restructuring
  participle
• has been restructuring
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular

Past

• had restructured
  perfect
• restructured
  participle
• had been restructuring
  perfect progressive
• were restructuring
  progressive plural
• restructured
  simple
• was restructuring
  progressive singular

Future

• will restructure
  simple
• will have restructured
  perfect
• will have been restructuring
  perfect progressive
• will be restructuring
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of restructure

First recorded in 1940–45; re- + structure

Explanation

When you restructure something, you organize it in a different way so it’ll work better, like a practice schedule a coach restructures to get in more morning sessions before a big game. The verb restructure often refers to a company that is changing the way it operates in order to be more efficient. In many cases, this means laying off employees, closing locations, or working with creditors to change the speed at which debt is repaid. The goal of this kind of restructuring is for the company to stay in business through a rough time in its history.

Example Sentences

The proposed Inglewood Fair Share Admissions Tax Tier Reform and Cap Removal Initiative, funded by WOW media, would eliminate those caps and restructure how venues are taxed.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026

The U.N. can’t borrow money and its leadership has limited power to restructure operations or fire employees, whose salaries account for 70% of expenses.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 30, 2026

The new proposal was prepared ahead of negotiations over how to restructure the USMCA, which President Trump signed in 2020 and is up for review this year, according to the people familiar with planning.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026

She says, since an NHS restructure in 2022, integrated care boards have been under intense pressure to balance budgets while losing staff with the skills and knowledge to design complex, "person-centred" packages.

From BBC • May 19, 2026

Hoover wanted the new investigation to be a showcase for his bureau, which he had continued to restructure.

From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann

Related Words

• reconstruct
• reshuffle
• revamp