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.
When a team delivers under pressure, ask who did something that deserves retelling, then retell it with the struggle left in, because the wobble is what makes the payoff believable. — Bryan Adams, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026 The San Francisco Ballet production, which debuted in 2024, retells the myth of Pandora, who opened the box that unleashed humanity’s evil into the world. — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 28 Aug. 2026 Six, the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical that uses modern pop styles to retell the stories of Henry VIII’s wives from the women’s point of view, will close on January 3, 2027, after nearly six years and 2,178 performances. — Greg Evans, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2026 The story was retold again a couple months later in 2009, but with less gusto. — Taylor Romine, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 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

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 4 Sep. 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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