reappraise
C1Formal, Academic, Professional
Definition
Meaning
To assess or evaluate something again, especially in light of new information or a change in perspective.
To reconsider the value, importance, or nature of something; a formal or systematic reassessment, often in professional, financial, or personal contexts.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a considered, deliberate second look, not a casual reconsideration. Often suggests a formal or systematic process.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Spelling is consistent: 'reappraise' (not 'reapprize').
Connotations
Slightly more common in formal British writing (e.g., policy, heritage contexts). In American English, strongly associated with financial/property valuation.
Frequency
Low frequency in both variants, but slightly higher in British English corpus data in academic/policy contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] reappraises [Object] (e.g., The committee reappraised the policy).[Subject] reappraises [Object] as [Complement] (e.g., Historians reappraised him as a visionary).It is necessary to reappraise [Object] (e.g., It is necessary to reappraise our strategy).Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To take stock (informal equivalent in some contexts)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
To reassess the value of company assets or the viability of a strategy.
Academic
To re-examine a theory, historical figure, or set of data in light of new evidence.
Everyday
To reconsider one's life choices or priorities after a significant event.
Technical
In real estate or finance, to conduct a new official valuation of a property or portfolio.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The council decided to reappraise its green belt policy.
- We must reappraise our commitments in light of the budget cuts.
American English
- The bank will reappraise the property before finalizing the loan.
- The study forces us to reappraise early American history.
adverb
British English
- The collection was reappraisingly curated to reflect modern sensibilities. (Rare/Formal)
American English
- He looked reappraisingly at the proposal. (Rare/Formal)
adjective
British English
- The reappraisal process was lengthy.
- A reappraise report is on the minister's desk.
American English
- The reappraisal value came in lower than expected.
- She led the reappraisal committee.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The manager will reappraise the team's goals next month.
- I need to reappraise how I spend my free time.
- After the scandal, the public was forced to reappraise the politician's earlier achievements.
- The company must reappraise its marketing strategy in the digital age.
- Recent archaeological discoveries necessitate a wholesale reappraisal of Neolithic migration patterns.
- The critic's groundbreaking essay reappraised the novelist's work, highlighting its previously ignored political subtext.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'RE-APPRAISE' - like an appraiser looks at a house's value, to RE-APPRAISE is to look at its value AGAIN.
Conceptual Metaphor
JUDGMENT IS MEASUREMENT (We 'weigh' evidence again, 'size up' a situation anew).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'переоценить' which can mean both 'reappraise' and 'overestimate'. Use 'пересмотреть оценку', 'заново оценить' for clarity.
- Avoid direct calque 'реаппрейз'. The word is not borrowed into Russian.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'reapprize'.
- Confusing with 'reprise' (to repeat a performance).
- Using it for instant, casual reconsideration ('Let me reappraise what to eat').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'reappraise' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are very close synonyms. 'Reappraise' can sometimes imply a more formal or official assessment, especially regarding value (like property or assets), while 'reassess' is slightly more general.
Not frequently. It is more common in formal, professional, or written contexts (business, academia, policy). In casual speech, people might say 'rethink' or 'reconsider'.
Yes, the noun is 'reappraisal' (e.g., 'a radical reappraisal of the theory').
Yes, you can reappraise a person's role, contribution, or character (e.g., 'Historians have reappraised the king as a reformer'). It is less common for momentary opinions ('I reappraised him after he smiled').