Repurpose
What it means
To adapt something for a useful new purpose.
Reach for it when describing the creative adaptation of an existing object, place, or material to a useful new role
The class will repurpose old jars as seed containers.
Words to choose between 9
| playful | |
|---|---|
| everyday | |
| professional | |
| formal |
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playful
Fits when discarded material gains higher value
Careful Upcycle is informal and claims an increase in value.
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everyday
reuse
Fits when using an item again, unchanged, is enough
Careful Reuse does not imply a new purpose.
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professional
Fits when altering something to fit changed needs is central
Careful Adapt can preserve the original purpose.
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professional
convert
Fits when form or function changes substantially
Careful Convert can imply permanent replacement of the old use.
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professional
reassign
Fits when a resource receives a new designated role
Careful Reassign suits duties better than physical adaptation.
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professional
redeploy
Fits when people or equipment move to another task
Careful Redeploy sounds organizational and may not alter the resource.
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professional
rework
Fits when material or a draft is worked again
Careful Rework improves or changes something without necessarily giving it a new role.
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professional
salvage
Fits when useful value is saved from waste or damage
Careful Salvage does not guarantee a different purpose.
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formal
Fits when the change is extensive and visible
Careful Transform overstates a modest new use.
Opposites 3
- discard
- waste
- idle
Common phrases 3
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repurpose a building
The town will repurpose a building as a winter clinic.
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repurpose old materials
Students repurpose old materials into sturdy display stands.
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creatively repurpose
The gardeners creatively repurpose broken tiles as path markers.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Commander Keane, Queensland accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated