English Reference
verb · noun

rewrite

v. · n.
US /ˈɹiˌɹaɪt/ re·write UK spelling rewrites, rewrote

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    v.to write something again in order to improve it or change the information.

    v.to revise a piece of writing or code by altering its structure, style, or content while maintaining the core purpose.

    Simple

    The teacher asked me to rewrite the first paragraph of my essay.

    In context

    The legal team had to rewrite the contract several times to ensure that all the new regulations were properly addressed.

    Usage

    Transitive; requires a direct object such as a document, paragraph, or code block.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced Technical Math

    v.to change parts of a mathematical rule or formula using specific steps.

    v.to replace subterms of a formula with other terms according to established transformation rules.

    Simple

    You can rewrite this equation to make it easier to solve.

    In context

    In symbolic logic, one may rewrite the expression using De Morgan's laws to simplify the proof process.

  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate

    n.a piece of writing that has been changed or written again.

    n.a revised version of a text, script, or computer program.

    Simple

    The director was happy with the latest rewrite of the movie script.

    In context

    After the software crashed during the demo, the engineering team performed a complete rewrite of the core engine.


From re- + write.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated