rewrite
Americanverb (used with object)
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to write in a different form or manner; revise.
to rewrite the entire book.
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to write again.
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to write (news submitted by a reporter) for inclusion in a newspaper.
noun
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the news story rewritten.
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something written in a different form or manner; revision.
They loved the rewrite, and said it would be a blockbuster!
verb
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to write (written material) again, esp changing the words or form
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computing to return (data) to a store when it has been erased during reading
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of rewrite
Explanation
When you rewrite something, you start from scratch, writing it again to improve it. You might decide to rewrite a poem after your entire poetry class seems confused by your original version. A newspaper editor might instruct a reporter to rewrite her story, approaching it from a new angle or including more interviews. To rewrite something is to edit it, but the word implies making significant changes — or even starting all over again with a blank piece of paper or computer screen. You can call the new version itself a rewrite too. In journalism, it was once common for a "rewrite man" to work crafting new stories out of other people's reporting.
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.
He forced a cultural rewrite that Microsoft veterans still talk about.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 22, 2026
OTTAWA—Canada’s chief U.S. trade negotiator said her mandate is to preserve the key elements of the existing North American trade treaty, with no intention to significantly revise or rewrite the pact’s terms.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026
A cave hidden beneath an 11th Century castle in Pembrokeshire is a "truly remarkable site" which could rewrite Britain's prehistory, researchers say.
From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026
The plan is not binding but serves as a statement of the administration's priorities as Congress begins drafting spending legislation, with lawmakers retaining the power to rewrite or reject it.
From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026
It took them a full hour to write and rewrite the message.
From "The Parker Inheritance" by Varian Johnson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
