rerailing: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical (Railway), Figurative
Quick answer
What does “rerailing” mean?
The process of placing a derailed train back onto its tracks.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The process of placing a derailed train back onto its tracks.
The act of restoring something (often figuratively) to its intended course or operational state after a deviation or failure.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or usage differences. Both variants use the term identically.
Connotations
Identical technical connotations. Figurative use may be slightly more common in business/management contexts.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and specialised in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “rerailing” in a Sentence
[Subject] performed the rerailing of [Object].The [Event] necessitated a rerailing.[Subject] is involved in rerailing.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “rerailing” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The recovery crew worked through the night to rerail the carriages.
- We need to rerail this discussion onto the main agenda points.
American English
- The crew rerailed the train using hydraulic jacks.
- The consultant was hired to rerail the floundering software launch.
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial form. 'For rerailing purposes' would be used.)
American English
- (No standard adverbial form. 'To work rerailing' is not idiomatic.)
adjective
British English
- The rerailing procedure was completed efficiently.
- They discussed rerailing options for the derailed project.
American English
- The rerailing operation required heavy equipment.
- A rerailing plan was drafted by the engineering team.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Figurative: 'After the budget overrun, the project manager focused on rerailing the initiative.'
Academic
Rare. Could appear in engineering or logistics case studies.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Almost exclusively used by railway enthusiasts or professionals.
Technical
Literal: 'The specialised crane was deployed for the rerailing of the freight locomotive.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “rerailing”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “rerailing”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “rerailing”
- Misspelling as 're-railing' (hyphenated form is less common).
- Using it as a base verb ('to rerail' is correct; 'to rerailing' is incorrect).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both 'rerailing' (closed) and 're-railing' (hyphenated) are found, but the closed form is becoming more standard.
Yes, figuratively it can be applied to any project, plan, or process that has deviated from its intended path and needs to be put back on course.
The verb is 'to rerail' (or 'to re-rail').
No, it is a low-frequency, specialised term used primarily in railway contexts and occasionally in business/management jargon.
The process of placing a derailed train back onto its tracks.
Rerailing is usually technical (railway), figurative in register.
Rerailing: in British English it is pronounced /ˌriːˈreɪ.lɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌriˈreɪ.lɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Back on the rails (figurative equivalent)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: RE-RAIL-ing. Putting something BACK on the RAILS.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROGRESS IS A TRAIN ON TRACKS; SETBACKS ARE DERAILMENTS; RECOVERY IS RERAILING.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'rerailing' used LEAST frequently?