Word
rethink
Phoneticsre·think, stress on the second syllable
/ɹiˈθɪŋk/
Definitions
01to reconsider
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to think about something again to decide if you should change it.
v. to reconsider a previous decision or plan, often in response to new information or a failure.
“The company had to rethink its strategy after sales fell in the first quarter.”
“The sudden shift in market regulations forced the board to rethink their entire expansion project before committing further capital.”
Usage
Often used when a previous plan has encountered problems.
Synonyms
02a reconsideration
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. the act of thinking about something again to make changes.
n. an instance of reconsidering a policy or idea, often leading to a significant change in direction.
“The government's new tax plan needs a major rethink.”
“After the pilot programme failed to meet its targets, the department underwent a fundamental rethink of its service delivery model.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Others called for a rethink of Seoul’s policy on the war on Iran.” “A lot of astrophysical systems have also been used to look for similar effects, and we need to rethink all of them," Huang says.” Etymology
From re- + think.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- 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
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/rethink