Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • transitive verb To make over completely.
  • transitive verb To bring back into existence or use.
  • idiom (reinvent (oneself)) To take up a different career or a different way of life.
  • idiom (reinvent the wheel) To do or make something again, from the beginning, especially in a needless or inefficient effort.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To devise or create anew, independently and without knowledge of a previous invention.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb To invent again something that has already been invented.
  • verb To renew.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb bring back into existence
  • verb create anew and make over

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

re- +‎ invent

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Examples

  • When Japan enters the Second World War, Gion's isolation is finally breached and Sayuri must once again reinvent herself and her way of existence.

    Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden: Questions 1997

  • Boutique labels reinvent the artist-label relationship

    Baltimore City Paper 2010

  • Boutique labels reinvent the artist-label relationship

    Baltimore City Paper 2010

  • Boutique labels reinvent the artist-label relationship

    Baltimore City Paper 2010

  • Boutique labels reinvent the artist-label relationship

    Baltimore City Paper 2010

  • Boutique labels reinvent the artist-label relationship

    Baltimore City Paper 2010

  • Boutique labels reinvent the artist-label relationship

    Baltimore City Paper 2010

  • Lets be optimistic and assume we do "reinvent", that fiscal responsibility takes hold, less debt, spending more in line with revenue, health care made manageable.

    Bolden Update - The Waiting Game - NASA Watch 2009

  • Literally taking a page from Zenoscope Publishing, who are developing the motion picture "Return To Wonderland", spinning-off their horror comic book series "Grimm Fairy Tales", Syfy has decided to 'reinvent' fairy tales as part of their Saturday night TV movie franchise, airing five films, putting a 'contemporary twist' on a classic (public domain) story, from "Hansel & Gretel" to "Little Red Riding Hood".

    Archive 2010-02-01 Michael Stevens 2010

  • It's a dually beneficial program, because host agencies provide new or additional community service opportunities while seniors receive training and a means to "reinvent" their career lives.

    Jim Gibbons: A Second Chance at Life 2010

Comments

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  • [["Children reinvent your world for you ."(Susan Sarandon) Chicken soup for the mother's soul . Authors :Jack Canfield , Mark Victor Hansen , Jennifer Read Hawthorne , and Marci Shimoff . Page 201

    September 30, 2010