regroup: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumNeutral to Formal
Quick answer
What does “regroup” mean?
To organize something, especially people, into a new group or arrangement.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To organize something, especially people, into a new group or arrangement; to form a group again after a period of dispersal.
Figuratively, to reorganize thoughts, plans, or resources; to pause and reassess a situation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. The word is used identically in both major varieties. British English may be slightly more likely to use the alternative 're-form' for the military sense to avoid ambiguity with 're-group' as in 'group again'.
Connotations
Commonly associated with military, strategic, or team-based activities in both varieties.
Frequency
Similar frequency; perhaps slightly more common in American media related to business strategy.
Grammar
How to Use “regroup” in a Sentence
Subject (group/leader) + regroup (intransitive). E.g., 'The team needs to regroup.'Subject (leader) + regroup + Object (people/resources) (transitive). E.g., 'The manager regrouped the staff into smaller units.'Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “regroup” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The soldiers were ordered to regroup at the fallback position.
- After the disappointing results, the party must regroup and rethink its strategy.
- Let's regroup the committee into smaller working parties.
American English
- We need to regroup and come up with a new marketing plan.
- The coach told the players to regroup during the timeout.
- Management regrouped the sales teams by region.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Common in management to describe restructuring teams or revising strategy after a setback. E.g., 'After the merger, we'll need to regroup our departments.'
Academic
Used in military history, management studies, or psychology (e.g., 'cognitive regrouping').
Everyday
Used when a group (family, friends, sports team) needs to reorganize plans or recover from a problem.
Technical
Military term for assembling dispersed units; also used in project management methodologies like Agile.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “regroup”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “regroup”
- Using 'regroup' when 'group' is intended (i.e., for the first formation).
- Misspelling as 're-group' (though this hyphenated form is sometimes seen, the solid form is standard).
- Using it transitively when intransitive is better. E.g., 'We regrouped' vs. overly formal 'We regrouped ourselves'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While most common for groups of people (teams, soldiers), it can be used figuratively for abstract things like thoughts, plans, or efforts. E.g., 'I need a moment to regroup my thoughts.'
'Regroup' emphasizes changing the composition or arrangement within a group, often for tactical reasons. 'Reform' (or 're-form') emphasizes coming back together into a single unit after being separated. 'Reform' (one word, no hyphen) more commonly means to improve or change behaviour.
Yes. While often triggered by a setback, the act of regrouping is neutral or positive, implying resilience and strategic thinking. E.g., 'We're regrouping for a stronger push next quarter.'
It is neutral. It is appropriate in formal contexts (business, military) but is also perfectly natural in everyday conversation among friends or family.
To organize something, especially people, into a new group or arrangement.
Regroup: in British English it is pronounced /ˌriːˈɡruːp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌriˈɡruːp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Let's take five to regroup.”
- “Regroup and come back stronger.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'group' that needs a 're-do' (re) because it's broken or ineffective. It needs to be made again.
Conceptual Metaphor
REASSEMBLING IS HEALING/PREPARING. Regrouping is often a metaphorical pause for mental or strategic recovery before the next action.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'regroup' LEAST likely to be used?