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to retool

to retool

8 5.9
Change a plan or system to make it work better
  • verb
  • /ˌriːˈtuːl/
translation icon : reorganizar
  • So now they've retooled; they can do even more work with fewer human workers.

And so you retool your life if you want to escape from your web of lies.

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Examples

  • The successes this year under retooled city management have officials wondering whether privatization is necessary.

    Blog text (4)
  • Open debate is the only way to generate new and creative ideas necessary for retooling and moving forward.

    Blog text (33)
  • Now we retool our mission to the moon with humans.

  • And so you retool your life if you want to escape from your web of lies.

  • They should they should basically retool their business model to be something totally new.

  • Important social institutions can be retooled in a number of ways.

    Academic text (1998)
  • First cohort members reflected and retooled the lessons in order to improve student learning.

    Academic text (2010)
  • Much of the impetus for retooling this aspect of development came down to a case of pure economics.

    Blog text (7)
  • To remain competitive, the company must retool its marketing strategy to attract younger customers.

  • As part of the project, we need to retool our approach to better address the needs of our clients.

Synonyms

to modify
vsto retool
268 3.2

Make small changes to something to make it more useful

can mean wider revision or structural reorganization for improvement
to revise
vsto retool
179 3.4

Change a piece of writing to correct mistakes and make it better

covers wider operational or structural updates beyond editing changes
to reinvent
vsto retool
102 4.3

Make a thing or person look new and work better

is generally less radical, focusing on practical updating and reorganization
to refine
vsto retool
93 4.0

Make something better by making a few small changes

is broader, often involving reorganizing systems or processes
to restructure
vsto retool
56 4.4

Organize something in a new way so it works better

stresses targeted revision of systems and strategies for improvement
to revolutionize
vsto retool
55 6.6

Completely change something in a new and much better way

applies to more routine improvements and organized updates rather than revolution
to reconfigure
vsto retool
  • Specialized
53 5.4

Change the order or settings of something to fit new needs

applies more widely to plans, strategies, or organizational changes
to remake
vsto retool
52 3.5

To make something again in a new or better way

leans more toward organized system updates rather than full remaking
to redo
vsto retool
47 2.1

Do something again to fix mistakes or make it better

implies broader updating or reorganization beyond simple repetition
to reorganize
vsto retool
43 3.4

To change the way something is arranged to make it work better

includes that but centers on planned strategy or system updates
to revamp
vsto retool
41 4.9

To change something to make it look or work better

aims at changing underlying systems or strategies rather than looks
to overhaul
vsto retool
35 4.6

To check and fix or change something completely to make it work better

is often narrower, focused on reorganizing processes and plans
to remodel
vsto retool
35 3.7

To change the shape and look of something, usually a room or building

applies to procedural or strategic updates rather than only changing looks
to rework
vsto retool
30 4.0

To change something again to make it better

focuses more on broader planned reorganization or system updates
to reformulate
vsto retool
8 6.1

Express ideas in a new or better way

is focused on changing practical systems and processes instead of wording
to recalibrate
vsto retool
7 6.5

Change a plan or attitude to fit new information

is more active, implying deliberate reorganization or systematic updates
to reengineer
vsto retool
  • Specialized
3 5.5

Change a process, system or product to make it work better

is broader, including smaller reorganizations and general updates
to refashion
vsto retool
3 4.9

To change something into a new or different form

is oriented to revising systems, strategies, or processes rather than style
to rejigger
vsto retool
  • Informal
2 7.8

To change something a little so it works better

involves more systematic planning and larger organizational change
to remold
vsto retool
  • US
2 4.6

To change how something is shaped or how it works

focuses more on organized revision of systems rather than reshaping alone
to recompose
vsto retool
1 6.0

Arrange parts again in a new way, like a picture or song

implies systematic revision or updating beyond simple recombination
to redevelop
vsto retool
1 4.7

To change and improve an idea, plan, or computer program

is more about changing operational systems than only ideas or theory
to rejig
vsto retool
  • Informal
1 7.0

To change the machines and how a factory works to make it work better

applies the same updating idea to plans and organizational systems
to replan
vsto retool
1 3.7

To make a new plan after changes or problems

focuses on altering systems and operations beyond planning alone
to regear
vsto retool
  • Jargon
7.3

To change the way a company or team works to meet new goals

covers similar adaptation but often with wider revision intent
to reorchestrate
vsto retool
7.5

To change how tasks and people work together in a project

includes such coordination but also structural or strategic revisions
to reweave
vsto retool
6.2

To bring parts or people back together to make something whole again

is broader, covering strategic and process changes beyond structural rebuilding

Antonyms

19 6.8

To stop growing or changing and stay the same, like water in a pond

How Thorough

to transform
523 3.4
to overhaul
35 4.6
to retool
8 5.9
to revise
179 3.4
to adjust
317 2.7
tweak
28 3.9

Surface Forms

retool infinitive
retooled past
retooled past participle
retooling present participle
retools third person singular

Morphology

retool = tool (semi-transparent) = re + tool

The meaning is a metaphorical extension from changing or replacing tools to revising or reorganizing a system, so learners may not infer 'revise' directly from 're-' + 'tool'.

Etymology

Retool is made from re- 'again' and tool 'something you use to do a job'. Think of changing the tools in your toolbox—so to retool a strategy is to change your methods or plans to make them better.