WordGarden.ioreinvent
A2Pronunciation
UK
- /rˌiːɪnvˈɛnt/
US
- /ˌriɪnˈvɛnt/
Meanings
Verb
to change or present something so radically that it seems new again
to devise or make something again from scratch, often when an equivalent already exists
Beyond the definition
To reinvent something is not just to make a small change. It is to take it apart in your mind and build it again in a new way. Think of an artist who leaves an old style behind and starts painting in a completely different one. Or a chef who takes familiar ingredients and turns them into something fresh and surprising.
We often talk about people reinventing themselves by changing their career, lifestyle, or public image. The idea is that they do not simply improve a little; they become different in a clear way. A company might reinvent its brand to reach a new audience, and an author might reinvent a classic story by giving it a modern twist. Sometimes it is about survival too: adapting to change and finding a new way to do well.
To reinvent means to completely reshape or remake something—often implying a significant departure from its original form or purpose. It's more than just improving or updating; it suggests a fundamental transformation, as if starting over with a fresh perspective.
You might hear about artists reinventing their style after years of working in one particular way, or businesses reinventing themselves to stay competitive in a changing market. A classic example is how Netflix reinvented the movie rental industry by shifting from mailing DVDs to streaming content online.
The phrase "reinventing the wheel" is often used ironically—it means trying to create or improve something that already works well, and therefore wasting effort. However, true reinvention isn't about pointless tinkering; it's about identifying a need or opportunity and creating something genuinely new to address it.
People also use "reinvent" when talking about personal transformation. To reinvent yourself means to make significant changes in your life—your career, relationships, habits, or even your identity—to become the person you want to be. It requires courage, self-awareness, and a willingness to break free from old patterns.
So whether it's a product, a company, or a person, to reinvent is to dismantle the existing structure and build something entirely new—a bold act of creation and transformation.
Examples
- 1
Brand image
The company reinvented its image after it started losing younger customers.
- 2
Small business
Many small restaurants had to reinvent their business during the pandemic by focusing on delivery and takeout.
- Patternreinvent a business
change it in a major new way so it can succeed
- 3
Career change
After years of acting in comedies, she reinvented herself as a serious director.
- Patternreinvent yourself as + role
create a new identity or role for yourself
- 4
Online learning
The app aims to reinvent how people learn languages online.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Common expression
You don't need to reinvent the wheel; just improve the system we already have.
- Phrasereinvent the wheel
try to create something again that already exists
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- reinvent yourself
- reinvent a brand
Word family
Explore
- innovation
- rebranding
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- reinventverb
Forms
- reinventing-ing formverb
- reinventedpast tenseverb
- reinventsverb