retrain

verb

re·​train (ˌ)rē-ˈtrān How to pronounce retrain (audio)
retrained; retraining; retrains
Synonyms of retrainnext

transitive verb

: to train again or anew

intransitive verb

: to become trained again
retrainable
(ˌ)rē-ˈtrā-nə-bəl How to pronounce retrain (audio)
adjective

Examples of retrain in a Sentence

The organization retrains people who have lost their jobs. He is retraining for another job. He retrained as a mechanic.
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.
For someone with insomnia, however, the bed has been quietly retrained. — Sharon Brandwein, USA Today, 27 June 2026 Tiny forward-looking questions retrain the brain faster than forced positivity ever will. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 The tracker will be updated monthly and could help the state identify where job search support, retraining, upskilling, health coverage guidance and other resources may be needed. — Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 25 June 2026 The dashboard will be refreshed monthly, allowing the state to determine if interventions are required – such as job-search support, health-coverage assistance or retraining resources. — Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 27 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for retrain

Word History

First Known Use

1856, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of retrain was in 1856

Rhymes for retrain

See All Rhymes for retrain

Browse Nearby Words

retraict
retrain
retral
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Retrain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retrain. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

retrain

verb
re·​train rē-ˈtrān How to pronounce retrain (audio)
1
: to train again or anew
2
: to become retrained
retrainable
-ˈtrā-nə-bəl How to pronounce retrain (audio)
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on retrain

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for retrain

Nglish: Translation of retrain for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All