French word

réinventer

Pronunciation

IPA/ʁeɛ̃vɑ̃te/

Meaning

  • verbreinvent

Example

Il ne faut pas réinventer la roue.

You should not reinvent the wheel.

Illustration for réinventer (reinvent)

More examples

Après la crise, la marque a réinventé son image.

After the crisis, the brand reinvented its image.

Core concept

An established method replaced by a newly conceived version.

Common phrases

  • réinventer son image

    reinvent one's image

  • réinventer le quotidien

    reinvent everyday life

Similar words

changer: To change a thing or situation into something different.
repenser: To reconsider a policy or its content carefully and revise it.
transformer: To change the form or nature of something substantially.
créer: To create something new from scratch.

Definition in French

Au sens propre, refaire ou créer à nouveau; au sens figuré, repenser ou remplacer une méthode, une idée ou une pratique déjà adoptée.

Word origin

The French verb joins the prefix ré- with inventer, a verb inherited from Latin inventare, and its literal sense is to invent something again.

Usage tips

  • Réinventer takes a direct object, as in réinventer une méthode, while se réinventer means transforming oneself or one's activity.

Opposites

Related words

  • réinventionreinventionnoun
  • réinventeurreinventornoun

Word lists with this word