# relocate

/ˌɹiˈɫoʊkeɪt/ (US) · /ɹɪləʊkˈeɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/relocate
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. to move house or business

verb · CEFR B2

to move to a new place to live or work.

For teachers: to change one's place of residence or business operations. This sense is often intransitive.

- The company decided to relocate its main office to a city with lower taxes.
- After the merger, several senior executives were offered generous packages to relocate from the London branch to the new headquarters in Singapore.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'to' followed by the new destination.

Teaching tip: While 'move' is more common in daily speech, 'relocate' is the standard term in professional or corporate contexts.

### 2. to move an object

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to move something from one position to another.

For teachers: to move an object or entity from its original site to a new one. This sense is transitive and requires a direct object.

- The workers had to relocate the heavy machinery to the other side of the factory.
- Conservationists worked through the night to relocate the endangered nest to a protected area before the construction crew arrived.

Usage: Always takes a direct object.

## Examples

- The company decided to relocate its main office to London.
- After living in the city for ten years, they decided to relocate to the countryside for a quieter life.
- While the executive was initially hesitant to relocate, the firm offered a comprehensive package that covered all moving expenses and assisted with finding a new school for her children.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.