re-evaluate
B2Formal to Neutral. Common in professional, academic, and serious contexts.
Definition
Meaning
To consider or examine something again in order to form a new or updated judgment about its value, quality, or importance.
To subject a policy, plan, relationship, or belief to fresh critical analysis, often due to new evidence, changing circumstances, or a desire for improvement.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a deliberate, structured, and often critical reassessment. It suggests a more thoughtful process than simpler synonyms like 'rethink' or 'reconsider'. The hyphen is often used, especially in British English, though solid spelling ('reevaluate') is also common.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The hyphenated form 're-evaluate' is strongly preferred in British English. American English shows more variation, accepting both 're-evaluate' and the closed form 'reevaluate', with a trend towards the latter.
Connotations
No significant connotational difference beyond the general preference for formality associated with the hyphen in British usage.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties within formal/professional contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] re-evaluates [Object][Subject] re-evaluates [Object] in light of [new information][Subject] needs to re-evaluateVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Take stock (of)”
- “Go back to the drawing board (implies starting over, not just re-evaluating)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The board decided to re-evaluate its investment strategy after the market downturn.
Academic
The discovery of new artefacts forced historians to re-evaluate their timeline of the civilization.
Everyday
After the argument, I had to re-evaluate our friendship.
Technical
The engineer re-evaluated the safety margins following the stress test results.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- We must re-evaluate our carbon footprint targets annually.
- The committee is re-evaluating the funding criteria.
American English
- Management needs to reevaluate its remote work policy.
- She reevaluated her career goals after the internship.
adverb
British English
- N/A. The word is not standardly used as an adverb.
American English
- N/A. The word is not standardly used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- The re-evaluate phase of the project begins next quarter. (less common, often hyphenated as attributive adjective)
American English
- The reevaluate function in the software allows for adjustments. (less common)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I need to re-evaluate my spending this month.
- The team will re-evaluate their plan tomorrow.
- In light of the new data, we should re-evaluate our initial conclusion.
- The company re-evaluated its marketing strategy after poor sales.
- The philosophical movement prompted scholars to fundamentally re-evaluate the nature of consciousness.
- Her diagnosis forced a painful but necessary re-evaluation of her life's priorities.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: RE-do the EVALUATION. You put something back on the scales (value) to weigh it again.
Conceptual Metaphor
JUDGMENT IS MEASUREMENT (re-measuring), THINKING IS SEEING (re-viewing).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'переоценивать', which primarily means 'overestimate'. Use 'пересмотреть', 'проанализировать заново', or 'переоценить' only in the specific sense of 'reassess'.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling: 'reevalute' (missing 'a').
- Using 're-evaluate' for minor, instant thoughts instead of a deliberate process.
- Confusing with 'devalue' (to lower value).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 're-evaluate' most appropriately?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Re-evaluate' implies a more structured, in-depth, and often objective assessment of value or quality. 'Reconsider' is broader and can refer to changing one's mind about a decision or opinion, often based on persuasion or reflection.
It is strongly recommended in British English to avoid the awkward double 'e' (reevaluate). American English is more accepting of the closed form 'reevaluate'. Both are correct, but using the hyphen is never wrong.
Yes. While often triggered by problems, the act of re-evaluating is neutral to positive, implying growth, adaptation, and better decision-making. e.g., 'Re-evaluating our success metrics led to a more motivated team.'
It is primarily a transitive verb (it takes a direct object). Its related noun is 're-evaluation'.