retell

American

[ree-tel] / riˈtɛl /

verb (used with object)

retold, retelling

to tell (a story, tale, etc.) over again or in a new way.

It’s Sleeping Beauty retold with a different twist.

retell British

/ riːˈtɛl /

verb

to relate (a story, etc) again or differently

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of retell

re- + tell ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But much like Baz Luhrmann’s “Romeo + Juliet,” she’s not trying to retell this famous tale; she’s reimagining it as the outsized, grand spectacle it has become in both public consciousness and personal affection.

From Salon • Feb. 14, 2026

Now “Five Bullets,” by Elliot Williams, and “Fear and Fury,” by Heather Ann Thompson, retell the story.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 6, 2026

The sagas retell stories from the Viking era, but were written hundreds of years after the events, from 1200 onwards.

From BBC • Jan. 5, 2025

The Manhattan district attorney’s office has indicated it plans to retry Weinstein, which means his accusers could be forced to retell their stories on the witness stand.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 25, 2024

For example, retell The Wizard of Oz from the point of view of the Wicked Witch.’

From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023