retool

verb

re·​tool (ˌ)rē-ˈtül 

retooled; retooling; retools

transitive verb

1

: to reequip with tools

2

: reorganize

3

: revise, modify

intransitive verb

: to make especially minor changes or improvements

retool for the future

Examples of retool in a Sentence

The factory has been retooled.

The company is retooling its sales strategies.

The company is retooling for the future.

Recent Examples on the Web

Saudi oil exports still bring in well over $200 billion a year, giving MBS virtually unlimited cash to spend on his dream of retooling Saudi Arabia as a major world power. —Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Mar. 2025

Kansas City is going to be retooling their defensive output as a direct result of what happened to the team in Super Bowl LIX. —Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025

All those teams were disappointed not to make the playoffs last year and used the offseason to retool their squads. —Kyle Feldscher, CNN, 21 Feb. 2025

All considered, the Heat did a sound job of retooling the roster at the trade deadline, but the team’s ceiling took an obvious hit by dealing one of the best playoff-risers in league history in Jimmy Butler. —James Jackson, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1917, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for retool

• ampoule
• bascule
• carpool
• cesspool
• ferrule
• footstool
• guayule
• lobule
• misrule
• preschool
• pustule
• whirlpool

Kids Definition

retool

verb

re·​tool (ˈ)rē-ˈtül 

1

: to equip again with new or different tools

retool a factory

2

: to make changes or improvements to

retool that idea