retell

verb

re·​tell (ˌ)rē-ˈtel How to pronounce retell (audio)
retold (ˌ)rē-ˈtōld How to pronounce retell (audio) ; retelling

transitive verb

1
: to tell again or in another form
2
: to count again

Examples of retell in a Sentence

The movie retells the story of Romeo and Juliet.
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.
While Schwartz retells classic folklore tales with humor and goosebumps in equal measure, Gammell’s powerful drawings nudge children wordlessly toward the ghoulish. — Liz Rosenberg, The Conversation, 23 Oct. 2026 The figures suggest that as much as £150M ($201M) could have been spent embarking on the Harry Potter television project, which is aiming to retell each of Rowling’s seven books one season at a time. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2026 Nearly fifty years later, Impromptu (1991) retold the story as wry, knowing rom-com, this time with Judy Davis as the capering novelist and Hugh Grant as the winsome composer. — Kathryn Hughes, The New York Review of Books, 17 Oct. 2026 That’s what allows the author’s work to be retold and reimagined over decades. — Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for retell

Word History

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of retell was in 1593

Rhymes for retell

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Browse Nearby Words

retel
retell
retelling
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Cite this Entry

“Retell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retell. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

retell

verb
re·​tell rē-ˈtel How to pronounce retell (audio)
retold -ˈtōld How to pronounce retell (audio) ; retelling
1
: to tell again or in another form
2
: to count again
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