Word
reinvent
Phoneticsrein·vent
US/ˌɹiɪnˈvɛnt/
UK/ɹˌiːɪnvˈɛnt/
Definition
v. to change something so much that it seems completely new. People often do this to themselves or their businesses to stay successful or interesting.
v. to change something fundamentally, often to make it appear modern or more effective. Frequently used in the context of personal identity, business models, or creative processes.
Examples
“The company had to reinvent itself to stay competitive.”
“After losing his job in finance, he decided to reinvent himself as a professional chef.”
“The pop star managed to reinvent her image with every new album, ensuring her brand remained relevant to a constantly shifting demographic.”
Examples
simple
“The company had to reinvent itself to stay competitive.”
contextual
“After losing his job in finance, he decided to reinvent himself as a professional chef.”
complex
“The pop star managed to reinvent her image with every new album, ensuring her brand remained relevant to a constantly shifting demographic.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and often takes a reflexive pronoun like 'himself' or 'itself'.
Real-World Examples
“English, a 42-year-old father of three from Larkhall, Lanarkshire, reinvented himself as an independent journalist after appearing on Glow, a failed reality television show billed as a Glaswegian Towie.” “Netflix / Everett Collection The United States invented the teenager in the mid-20th century—and then teenagers reinvented the nation, repeatedly.” “The old must be cast out before it is reinvented as new; the modish cannot be represented by a 60-something football man.” Etymology
From re- + invent.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/reinvent