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to rewrite

to rewrite

112 2.8
To make a new version of a text to improve or change it
  • verb
  • /ˌriːˈraɪt/
translation icon : reescribir
  • And Schumpeter did try to rewrite his manuscript "from scratch" during the next few years.
  • rewrite the essay
  • rewrite history
  • rewrite the text

And I can say here's how you might rewrite this description.

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Examples

  • As Congress struggles to rewrite the nation's tort laws, the states already may have done the job.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Some of the best writers rewrite their manuscripts two or even more times.

    Academic text (1993)
  • So we're going to rewrite it a little more.

  • And then I would rewrite it in English.

  • I have to rewrite the whole thing.

  • So let's go ahead and rewrite this like this.

  • So the trick for this problem is to rewrite it first.

  • So the publisher allowed me to rewrite the first chapter.

  • And I can say here's how you might rewrite this description.

  • The teacher asked us to rewrite the essay to make our arguments clearer.

Synonyms

to revise
vsto rewrite
179 3.4

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

tends to mean writing again to change form or content
to redo
vsto rewrite
47 2.1

Do something again to fix mistakes or make it better

is limited to writing again rather than repeating any action
to rework
vsto rewrite
30 4.0

To change something again to make it better

applies specifically to writing rather than any kind of work
to restate
vsto rewrite
23 3.4

To say something again in a different, clearer way

implies producing a new written version, not just repeating speech
to recast
vsto rewrite
9 5.6

Present an idea in a different form or style

focuses on producing a new version that may also change content
to retool
vsto rewrite
8 5.9

Change a plan or system to make it work better

concerns writing again to change content or form, not system changes
to redraft
vsto rewrite
3 3.5

Write something again to make it better

is identical in meaning but used as the general expression
to rearticulate
vsto rewrite
1 6.7

To say something again in a clearer way

involves creating a new written version rather than restating ideas only
to repolish
vsto rewrite
4.2

Improve writing or a presentation by making small changes

means rewriting more thoroughly rather than only small polishing changes
to respecify
vsto rewrite
  • Specialized
7.2

To state something again more clearly

focuses on rewriting text broadly, not only redefining specifications

Antonyms

2.8

Not a copy and existing as the first form

Compounds

rewrite man
  • Archaic
1 7.7

A person who edits reporters' notes into clear news stories for newspapers

How Thorough

to overhaul
35 4.6
to rewrite
112 2.8
to revise
179 3.4

Surface Forms

rewrite infinitive
rewriting present participle
rewrites third person singular
rewrote past
rewritten past participle

Morphology

rewrite = write (transparent) = re + write

The prefix 're-' keeps its standard meaning 'again', so 'rewrite' is readily understood as 'write again' or 'write in a revised form'.

Etymology

Rewrite comes from the prefix re-, meaning 'again', and the word write, meaning 'to put words down'. So to rewrite is to 'write again', often to make the text clearer or better.