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.
Reihana’s strategy extended the original wallpaper’s long leer by emphasizing its fantastical composite, retelling the same story with footage of living islanders and recordings of several Pacific languages. — Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2026 The musical retells the story of Heated Rivalry, this time telling the tale of hockey players who want to kiss and explore each other’s bodies from the perspective of the straight, female fans who turned it into a hit. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 4 Aug. 2026 Thompson said on her Calm Down podcast while retelling the horror story of her gown to her co-host Erin Andrews, who also attended the nuptials at Madison Square Garden earlier in the month. — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 31 July 2026 Pritam invokes the 18th-century Punjabi Sufi poet Waris Shah, whose version of the Punjabi folktale Heer retells the tragic love story of Heer and Ranjha. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 July 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

See All Rhymes for retell

Browse Nearby Words

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retell
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Cite this Entry

“Retell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retell. Accessed 9 Aug. 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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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