repurpose, v. meanings, etymology and more (2025)

First published 2004

Quotations

Factsheet

What does the verb repurpose mean?

There is one meaning in OED's entry for the verb repurpose. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.

How common is the verb repurpose?

About 0.04occurrences per million words in modern written English

See frequency

How is the verb repurpose pronounced?

British English

/ˌriːˈpəːpəs/

ree-PUR-puhss

U.S. English

/riˈpərpəs/

ree-PURR-puhss

See pronunciation

Where does the verb repurpose come from?

Earliest known use

1980s

The earliest known use of the verb repurpose is in the 1980s.

OED's earliest evidence for repurpose is from 1984, in PR Newswire.

repurpose is formed within English, by derivation.

Etymons: re- prefix, purpose n.

See etymology

Nearby entries

  1. repurchase, n.1598–
  2. repurchase, v.1533–
  3. repurchase agreement, n.1891–
  4. repure, v.a1542–
  5. repurgate, v.1664–1730
  6. repurgation, n.1564–
  7. repurge, v.?1536–
  8. repurification, n.1826–
  9. repurify, v.1575–
  10. repurple, v.1590–
  11. repurpose, v.1984–
  12. repursuit, n.a1631–
  13. repurveance, n.a1500–1857
  14. repush, v.1616–
  15. reput, v.1673–
  16. reputability, n.1792–
  17. reputable, adj.1611–
  18. reputableness, n.1710–
  19. reputably, adv.a1689–
  20. reputate, v.c1450–1677
  21. reputation, n.c1390–

Browse more nearby entries

Etymology

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Meaning & use

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Pronunciation

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Frequency

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Compounds & derived words

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repurpose, v. meanings, etymology and more (2025)

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