repurpose

English

WOTD – 6 June 2011

Etymology

From re- +‎ purpose.

Pronunciation

(General American) IPA^(key): /ɹiˈpɝpəs/
(Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ɹiˈpɜːpəs/
Audio (AU) (file)

Verb

repurpose (third-person singular simple present repurposes, present participle repurposing, simple past and past participle repurposed)

To reuse for a different purpose, on a long-term basis, without alteration.
The town common was repurposed as a practice field.
To alter to make more suited for a different purpose.
The church was repurposed as a nightclub by lighting changes and removing the pews, but it never opened.

Synonyms

(reuse):
(alter): remodel

Translations

reuse without alteration

Esperanto: aliuzi
Finnish: kierrättää (fi), ottaa parempaan käyttöön

Portuguese: reutilizar (pt)

alter

Finnish: muuntaa (fi), muuttaa (fi)
German: umändern (de), abändern (de), umwandeln (de), abwandeln

Portuguese: adaptar (pt)
Russian: (somewhat) перенацелить (ru) (perenacelitʹ)