WordGarden.ioredevelop
A2Pronunciation
UK
- /rˌiːdɪvˈɛləp/
US
- /ridɪˈvɛləp/
Meanings
Verb
to rebuild or redesign land, buildings, or an area for new use
to build or rewrite software or a digital system again as a new version
Beyond the definition
Imagine an old part of town, maybe a worn-out factory or a neglected park. To redevelop it is to give it new life. It means taking something that already exists and improving it in a big way, often by rebuilding it, updating it, or changing how it is used. A city might redevelop an industrial area into new homes, shops, and parks.
The "re-" part suggests doing something again, but not in the same old way. It is more than a simple repair. It is about changing something so it works better for people now. You can use the word for places most often, but also for things like plans, systems, or products that are made new again for a better purpose.
To redevelop means to develop something again in a better, more useful way. It is not just repeating the same process. The word usually suggests major improvement, change, or modernization of something that already exists, such as a building, an area, a plan, or a system.
You will often see redevelop used for land, neighborhoods, and old buildings. For example, a city may redevelop a waterfront area by clearing unused warehouses and creating new housing, shops, offices, or public spaces. In this sense, the word often includes rebuilding, redesigning, and changing how a place is used so it fits present needs better.
The word can also be used more broadly. A company might redevelop a product so it works better in today's market. A school might redevelop a program to meet new goals. In these cases, the idea is still the same: something already exists, but it is changed in a serious way so it becomes more effective, modern, or valuable.
So the heart of redevelop is not simple repair. It is the act of taking something old, outdated, damaged, or underused and turning it into something that serves a new or better purpose.
Examples
- 1
Urban planning
The city plans to redevelop the old waterfront.
- 2
Land reuse
After the factory closed, the land was redeveloped into a business park.
- 3
Neighborhood change
Some locals support redeveloping the neighborhood, but others fear higher rents.
- 4
Software project
Instead of patching the old software again, the team decided to redevelop it from the ground up.
- Phrasefrom the ground up
completely, starting again from the beginning
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
- revitalize
- regenerate
- repurpose
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- redevelop a site
- redevelop an area
- redevelop land
Word family
Explore
- urban renewal
- gentrification
Forms and spellings
6 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- redevelopverb
Forms
- redevelopedpast tenseverb
- redeveloping-ing formverb
- redeveloppedpast tenseverb
- redevelopping-ing formverb
- redevelopsverb