repurpose: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Neutral to formal; common in business, environmental, design, and technology contexts.
Quick answer
What does “repurpose” mean?
To adapt or use something for a different function or purpose than its original one.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To adapt or use something for a different function or purpose than its original one.
To find a new, often creative or sustainable, use for an existing object, material, concept, or system, frequently to extend its life or increase its value.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The word is equally understood and used in both varieties.
Connotations
Slightly more associated with environmental sustainability and craft in UK contexts; with business innovation and tech in US contexts, but this is a subtle nuance.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English, but common in both.
Grammar
How to Use “repurpose” in a Sentence
[Subject] repurposes [Object] (into [new use])[Object] is repurposed (as/into [new use])[Object] can be repurposed for [new use]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “repurpose” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The council plans to repurpose the old library as a community centre.
- We repurposed the shipping container into a garden shed.
American English
- The company will repurpose the factory to build electric trucks.
- She repurposed an old blog post into a video script.
adverb
British English
- The materials were used repurposedly, avoiding waste. (Rare)
- N/A
American English
- N/A
- N/A
adjective
British English
- The repurposed railway arch housed several trendy bars.
- Repurposable packaging is a key sustainability goal.
American English
- The hotel was a repurposed 19th-century warehouse.
- Look for repurpose-friendly furniture for your home office.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used for describing strategic shifts, e.g., 'We will repurpose our marketing team to focus on digital outreach.'
Academic
Common in design, engineering, and sustainability studies, e.g., 'The study examines methods to repurpose industrial waste.'
Everyday
Used in DIY, crafting, and home projects, e.g., 'She repurposed old jars into candle holders.'
Technical
Frequent in software/data (repurposing code, datasets) and manufacturing (repurposing machinery).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “repurpose”
- Using it for people ('repurpose an employee' sounds odd; use 'redeploy' or 'reassign').
- Using it where no functional change occurs ('He repurposed the book by reading it again' is incorrect).
- Misspelling as 're-purpose' (hyphen is less common in modern usage).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Reuse' means to use again, possibly for the same function. 'Repurpose' specifically means to use for a *different* function, involving adaptation.
Yes. It is common to talk about repurposing content, data, arguments, or business strategies for a new context or audience.
'Recycle' typically involves processing a material to make a new, often different, product. 'Repurpose' uses an entire object in a new way with minimal processing (e.g., a tyre becomes a swing, not rubber mulch).
It is 'repurposed'. The word follows the standard rule for verbs ending in a consonant + 'e' (like 'purpose' -> 'purposed').
To adapt or use something for a different function or purpose than its original one.
Repurpose is usually neutral to formal; common in business, environmental, design, and technology contexts. in register.
Repurpose: in British English it is pronounced /ˌriːˈpɜː.pəs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌriːˈpɝː.pəs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated; the word itself is often used in phrases like 'give a new lease of life' which is a conceptual parallel.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: RE- (again) + PURPOSE (a function). You are giving something a RE-newed PURPOSE.
Conceptual Metaphor
OBJECTS ARE RESOURCES (that can be transformed for new functions); WASTE IS POTENTIAL.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the use of 'repurpose' LEAST appropriate?