rethink
C1Neutral to formal; common in business, academic, and political discourse.
Definition
Meaning
To consider something again in order to potentially change your opinion, plan, or approach.
A reassessment or reconsideration, often implying a significant change in policy, strategy, or understanding, typically in response to new information or poor results.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a verb, it is separable, often taking an object (e.g., 'rethink our strategy'). As a noun, it is often countable and preceded by articles like 'a' or 'the' (e.g., 'a complete rethink'). Implies a more profound or fundamental review than simply 'thinking again'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The noun form is more established and commonly used in British English, often in contexts like 'have a rethink'. In American English, the verb is dominant, with the noun often phrased as 'a rethinking'.
Connotations
In British usage, 'rethink' (noun) can sound slightly informal or idiomatic. In both varieties, it carries a connotation of strategic or necessary revision.
Frequency
High frequency in both varieties. The verb is equally common. The noun is more frequent in UK English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[verb] rethink + object (e.g., rethink the plan)[verb] rethink + about + noun/gerund (e.g., rethink about investing)[noun] a + adjective + rethink + of (e.g., a major rethink of policy)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A rethink is in order.”
- “It's time for a radical rethink.”
- “That gave me food for a rethink.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used for strategic pivots, e.g., 'The board demanded a complete rethink of the marketing strategy.'
Academic
Used in critiques or discussions of theory, e.g., 'The new evidence forces a rethink of the existing paradigm.'
Everyday
Used for personal plans or opinions, e.g., 'After the feedback, I had to rethink my holiday plans.'
Technical
Less common, but used in fields like engineering for design reviews, e.g., 'The safety audit required a rethink of the core architecture.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- We must urgently rethink our approach to public transport.
- The government was forced to rethink its policy on tuition fees.
American English
- The company needs to completely rethink its product design.
- The data made me rethink my position on the issue.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable as a standard adverb.
American English
- Not applicable as a standard adverb.
adjective
British English
- Not applicable as a standard adjective.
American English
- Not applicable as a standard adjective.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I will rethink my answer.
- He rethought his decision.
- The bad weather made us rethink our picnic plans.
- The manager asked the team to rethink the project timeline.
- The failed product launch compelled a radical rethink of their business model.
- She had to seriously rethink her career path after the internship.
- The recent geopolitical shifts necessitate a fundamental rethink of our foreign policy alliances.
- His thesis proposes a complete philosophical rethink of consciousness.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of REcycling your THINKing. You take your old thoughts, process them again, and create a new, better idea.
Conceptual Metaphor
THINKING IS A JOURNEY; to RETHINK is to turn back and take a different path.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid calquing "rethink" directly as "передумать" in formal contexts, as it can be too colloquial. "Пересмотреть" (peresmotret') is often more accurate for the verb. The noun "rethink" is best translated as "пересмотр" (peresmotr) or "новый подход" (novyj podxod).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'rethink' without an object when one is needed (e.g., 'We need to rethink' is fine, but 'We need to rethink about' is redundant). Overusing the noun form in American English contexts where 'rethinking' is more natural.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is the word 'rethink' used most appropriately?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral but common in formal contexts like business and academia. It suggests a structured, significant reconsideration.
Yes, especially in British English (e.g., 'have a rethink'). In American English, the gerund 'rethinking' is often preferred as the noun.
'Rethink' often implies a deeper, more fundamental review that may lead to major changes. 'Reconsider' can be more general, sometimes just thinking again about a single decision.
The stress is on the second syllable: 'ree-THINK'. The first syllable sounds like 're' in 'return'.