retool

verb

re·​tool (ˌ)rē-ˈtül How to pronounce retool (audio)
retooled; retooling; retools
Synonyms of retoolnext

transitive verb

1
: to reequip with tools
2
: reorganize
3
: revise, modify

intransitive verb

: to make especially minor changes or improvements
retool for the future

Examples of retool in a Sentence

The factory has been retooled. The company is retooling its sales strategies. The company is retooling for the future.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The plant still needs to be retooled to produce a vehicle — a process that has stalled since Stellantis announcement that the Compass would be built in the United States last year. — Liam Rappleye, Freep.com, 31 Aug. 2026 To comply, states would have to retool their processes for printing and mailing ballots, a potentially expensive process that might be difficult to achieve quickly. — Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 30 Aug. 2026 Purchasing facilities such as the Rosslyn plant can enable automakers to retool existing factories rather than build new ones from scratch. — ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026 That forced the filmmakers to retool much of the story, though Fogelson said that some of the material that was cut could be used in the sequel. — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for retool

Word History

First Known Use

1917, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of retool was in 1917

Rhymes for retool

See All Rhymes for retool

Browse Nearby Words

retonation wave
retool
retorsio facti
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Retool.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retool. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

retool

verb
re·​tool (ˈ)rē-ˈtül How to pronounce retool (audio)
1
: to equip again with new or different tools
retool a factory
2
: to make changes or improvements to
retool that idea

More from Merriam-Webster on retool

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for retool

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