recalibrate

verb

re·​cal·​i·​brate (ˌ)rē-ˈka-lə-ˌbrāt 

recalibrated; recalibrating; recalibrates

transitive verb

: to calibrate (something) again

… these systems gradually drift off course so that the navigator periodically needs a fresh point of reference to recalibrate the navigation system.

—Stefi Weisburd

The problem is that eating more doesn't sate us; we merely recalibrate how much we think we need.

—Nando Pelusi

recalibration

(ˌ)rē-ˌka-lə-ˈbrā-shən 

noun

plural recalibrations

Literacy standards were in need of constant recalibration, as each new phase of the war could inflate or deflate the value of existing skills, inflate or deflate the effectiveness of existing induction policies and instructional efforts.

—Deborah Brandt

Examples of recalibrate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Results provide evidence that the software actually does what's outlined in the expectations and allow users to recalibrate if evidence and expectations don’t line up. —John Ellis, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025

The recognition shifted where whales fit in the mammalian evolutionary tree and recalibrated what sort of ancestral creatures paleontologists should be looking for, yielding the 2007 discovery that whales most likely evolved from small, deer-like creatures in ancient India. —Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Apr. 2025

Halftime gave Florida a chance to recalibrate, and Golden harped on the importance of taking care of the ball. —Lindsay Schnell, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025

Dealers are to recalibrate the modules free of charge and affected owner notifications are to be sent April 24. —James Powel, USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1883, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for recalibrate

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• accumulate
• acuminate
• adjudicate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate