retool

verb

re·​tool (ˌ)rē-ˈtül 

retooled; retooling; retools

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

Matthew Gray Gubler, who starred for 15 seasons on Criminal Minds before it was retooled as Criminal Minds: Evolution, is finally slated for an appearance on the upcoming third season of the revival series. —Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 13 Dec. 2024

The New York Yankees lost the bidding war for superstar Juan Soto and must find other ways to retool their roster this offseason. —Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024

Schneider Electric retooled a 64-year-old facility in Lexington, Ky., with the help of AI to reduce energy and water consumption—but all of the work was done by current employees. —Alana Semuels, TIME, 3 Dec. 2024

The Sixers retooled their roster this offseason as a way to provide as much depth as possible around their injury-prone franchise big. —Kambui Bomani, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1917, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

retool

verb

re·​tool (ˈ)rē-ˈtül 

1

: to equip again with new or different tools

retool a factory

2

: to make changes or improvements to

retool that idea