# rewriting

/ɹiˈɹaɪtɪŋ/ (US) · /ɹɪɹˈaɪtɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/rewriting
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

the act of writing something again to make it better or to change the information.

For teachers: the process of revising or altering a written text to improve its clarity, style, or accuracy; also refers to the resulting new version.

## Examples

- The first draft of my essay needs a lot of rewriting.
- After receiving feedback from the editor, the author spent three weeks on a complete rewriting of the final chapter.
- In formal logic and computer science, rewriting involves a systematic process of replacing subterms of a formula with other terms according to a specific set of transformation rules.

## Usage notes

- Uncountable when referring to the general activity; countable when referring to a specific instance or a new version of a document.

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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.