reorient

verb

re·​ori·​ent (ˌ)rē-ˈȯr-ē-ˌent How to pronounce reorient (audio)
reoriented; reorienting

transitive verb

: to orient (someone or something) again or differently: such as
a
: to change the orientation or direction of (something or someone)
reorient the antenna
reoriented herself so she was facing north
b
: to reacquaint (someone, especially oneself) with a situation, environment, etc.
woke up and reoriented myself to my surroundings
… returning servicewomen and men struggling to reorient themselves to civilian life.Molly Callahan
c
: to change the goal or emphasis of (something or someone)
… I stumbled into motherhood and was bewildered at … the volte-face required to reorient myself, my values and my way of life …Madeleine Bunting
… lacks nearly every resource necessary to reorient its archaic industrial economy …David Remnick
The long-term potential of vast databases of genomic data to … reorient the debate on medical priorities …Larry Downes and Paul Nunes
also : to direct (something) toward the interests of a different group
reorienting its policy priorities to the working class. Franklin Foer
reorientation noun
plural reorientations
Many soldiers also find blogging a useful way to help deal with reorientation to civilian life … Brad Knickerbocker

Examples of reorient in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The aggressive tone for the opening salvo of Trump’s second administration, and his pardoning of Jan. 6 rioters and signing a blizzard of executive orders aimed at dramatically reorienting federal policy, were more consequential. Zac Anderson, USA TODAY, 21 Jan. 2025 Some news organizations are perceived to be reorienting to show more deference. Peter Baker, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2025 Rubio has been a leader in reorienting the Republican Party’s economic thinking in favor of industrial policy. Oren Cass, Foreign Affairs, 16 Jan. 2025 States could be forced to cut the number of Americans with health coverage through Medicaid, reorient funding from schools and law enforcement to cover the remaining population, and scale back initiatives that invest in patients today to promote healthier habits and lifestyles over the long-term. Dan Mendelson, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for reorient 

Word History

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of reorient was in 1877

Dictionary Entries Near reorient

Cite this Entry

“Reorient.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reorient. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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