English dictionary — definitions & meanings

retaining

adj

Built or used to hold something in place.

retake

verb

To take an exam, photo, or scene again.

retaliate

verb

To respond to harm done to you by causing harm in return.

retaliation

noun

An act of revenge carried out in response to harm.

retard

verb

To slow down the progress or development of something.

retardation

noun

The act of retarding or delaying; hindrance.

retarded

adj

Slowed down or delayed in development.

retch

verb

To make or experience an unsuccessful effort to vomit; to strain or spasm, as if to vomit; to gag or nearly vomit.

retching

noun

The action of gagging or straining as if about to vomit.

rete

noun

A network of blood vessels or nerves.

retell

verb

To tell again, often differently, what one has read or heard; to paraphrase.

retelling

noun

A new, changed, or adapted version of a story.

retem

noun

A shrub with white flowers, possibly Retama raetam; the juniper of the (King James Version) Old Testament.

retention

noun

The ability to hold onto or remember information.

rethink

verb

To think about something again with a view to changing it.

rethinking

noun

The process of reconsidering something in a new or different way.

reticent

adj

Unwilling to share thoughts, feelings, or information freely.

retina

noun

The light-sensitive layer of cells at the back of the eye that sends visual signals to the brain.

retinal

adj

Relating to the retina, the light-sensing layer at the back of the eye.

retinoid

adj

Pertaining to or resembling a resin.

retinol

noun

A form of vitamin A used in skincare products, belonging to the family of compounds called retinoids, which act on skin cells and are commonly included in creams and serums sold without a prescription.

retinue

noun

A group of assistants, guards, or followers accompanying an important person.

retire

verb

To leave one's job permanently, usually after reaching a certain age.

retired

adj

No longer working, especially after reaching pension age.

retirement

noun

The act of leaving your job or career for good, usually after reaching a certain age.

retiring

adjective

Shy, quiet, and preferring not to be the centre of attention.

retool

verb

To adjust; to optimize; to rebuild.

retort

noun

A sharp, witty, or cutting reply, especially one that turns an insult back on the person who made it.

retouch

verb

To improve something (especially a photograph), by adding or correcting details, or by removing flaws.

retrace

verb

To go back over a path, route, or sequence of events, often to find something or understand what happened.

retracing

noun

The act of going back over a path or sequence again.

retract

verb

To pull something back in, especially a part that extends outward.

retractation

noun

retraction (of something previously said)

retracted

adjective

Pulled back in or withdrawn.

retraction

noun

An official statement withdrawing something previously said or published, admitting it was wrong.

retractive

noun

That which retracts or withdraws.

retractor

noun

A surgical tool used to hold open the edges of a wound or incision during an operation.

retread

verb

To replace the traction-providing surface of a vehicle that employs tires, tracks or treads.

retreat

noun

The act of pulling back from danger, especially a military withdrawal.

retreating

noun

The act of pulling back or withdrawing.

retrenchment

noun

A curtailment or reduction.

retrial

noun

A new court trial ordered because the first one was unfair, flawed, or ended without a verdict.

retribution

noun

Punishment given out of a sense of justice or revenge for a wrong that was done.

retrieval

noun

The act of getting something back, or the process of accessing stored data or memories.

retrieve

verb

To get something back, especially something that was lost, stored, or left somewhere.

retriever

noun

A breed of dog trained to fetch game for hunters, known for being friendly and trainable.

retrieving

noun

The act of getting something back.

retro

adjective

Deliberately styled after, or reminiscent of, an earlier era.

retrodict

verb

To attempt to estimate the previous state from the present.

retroduction

noun

Synonym of abduction.

retrogradation

noun

Motion in a retrograde manner.

retrograde

adjective

Moving backward, or reversing to an earlier, less advanced state.

retrogress

verb

To return to an earlier, simpler or worse condition; to regress.

retrogression

noun

A deterioration or decline to a previous state.

retrogressive

adj

Of or relating to retrogression.

retrospect

noun

A look back at, or consideration of, past events.

retrospection

noun

The deliberate recall of past events.

retrospective

adjective

Looking back on or relating to the past.

retroversion

noun

A turning or falling back.

retroviral

adj

Of or pertaining to a retrovirus

retrovirologist

noun

One who studies retrovirology.

retrovirology

noun

The scientific study of retroviruses.

retrovirus

noun

A type of virus that copies its genetic material into the DNA of the cells it infects, permanently altering them.

retruse

adj

Thrust backward; retruding.

return

verb

To come or go back to a place, or to give something back to its owner.

returned

adjective

Having come back, especially from a trip, war, or absence.

returner

noun

One who returns from another place.

returning

noun

The act of coming back.

returns

noun

Goods sent back to a seller, usually for a refund or exchange.

Reuben

noun

A grilled sandwich made with corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and a creamy dressing, usually on rye bread.

reunification

noun

The bringing back together of something, especially a country, that had been divided.

reunify

verb

To unify again; to bring back together, or come back together, after separation.

reunion

noun

An event where people who haven't seen each other in a while, such as former classmates or family, meet up again.

reunite

verb

To bring or come back together after being separated.

reunited

adjective

Brought back together after being apart.

reuniting

noun

The act of coming back together after being apart.

reupholstery

noun

The act of reupholstering furniture

reusable

adj

Able to be used again; especially after salvaging or special treatment or processing

reuse

verb

To use something again, either for the same purpose or a new one, instead of throwing it away.

reuven

name

A male given name from Hebrew.

rev

verb

To make an engine run faster, or to increase its speed.

revaluation

noun

The process of altering the relative value of a currency or other standard of exchange.

revalue

verb

To value again, give a new value to.

revamp

verb

To improve, renew, renovate, or revise (something).

revanche

noun

Revenge or retaliation.

reveal

verb

To show or make known something that was hidden or secret.

revealed

adjective

Made known, especially through religious or divine communication.

revealing

adjective

Giving useful or surprising information; informative.

reveille

noun

A bugle call or drumbeat played early in the morning to wake soldiers.

revel

verb

To take great delight or pleasure in something.

revelation

noun

Something surprising or previously unknown that is made known, often dramatically.

revelatory

adj

Of, pertaining to, or in the nature of a revelation.

revelry

noun

Loud, lively celebration or merry-making.

revenant

noun

A spirit or reanimated corpse said to return from the dead, as in folklore or horror fiction.

revend

verb

Synonym of resell: to sell again.

revenge

noun

Harm done to someone in return for a wrong they committed against you.

revenue

noun

The total money a business, organization, or government takes in before costs are subtracted.

revenuer

noun

A government official who enforces laws prohibiting the illegal distillation of alcohol.

reverable

adj

Fit to be revered; worthy of reverence.

reverb

noun

The effect of a sound bouncing off surfaces so that it lingers and blurs after the source has stopped, either natural in a room or added electronically.

reverberate

verb

To cause (a sound) to be (repeatedly) bounced against one or more surfaces; to re-echo.

reverberation

noun

A violent oscillation or vibration.

revere

verb

To feel or show deep respect and admiration for someone or something.

revered

adj

Held in deep respect and admiration.

reverence

noun

Deep respect and awe, often tinged with a sense of the sacred.

reverend

adj

Deserving deep respect, especially used as a title before a clergy member's name.

reverent

adj

Showing or characterized by great respect or reverence; respectful.

reverie

noun

A state of pleasant daydreaming or drifting thought.

reversal

noun

A change to the opposite direction, position, or outcome.

reverse

adj

Opposite in position, direction, or order.

reversed

adj

Turned to face or run the opposite way.

reversible

adj

Capable of being turned back to its original state or direction.

reversing

verb

Moving backward, or undoing a previous decision or action.

reversion

noun

The act or process of reverting something.

revert

verb

To go back to a previous state, condition, or topic.

reverted

adj

Having gone back to an earlier state or condition.

revest

verb

To dress (a priest or other religious figure) in ritual garments, especially to celebrate Mass or another service.

review

noun

A written or spoken evaluation of a book, film, product, or performance.

reviewability

noun

The state of being reviewable; eligibility for review.

reviewed

verb

Past tense and past participle of review: looked over something carefully to check or assess it.

reviewer

noun

A person who writes critical assessments of books, films, products, or other work.

reviewing

verb

Examining something again carefully, or writing an assessment of it.

revile

verb

To attack (someone) with abusive language.

revisal

noun

The act of revising; a revision.

revise

verb

To change or correct something, especially a piece of writing, in order to improve it.

reviser

noun

One who revises.

revision

noun

The process of reviewing and correcting a piece of work, or the corrected version itself.

revisionism

noun

The advocacy of a revision of some accepted theory, doctrine or a view of historical events.

revisionist

adj

Of or pertaining to revisionism.

revisit

verb

To visit a place again.

revisiting

verb

Going back to a place, topic, or idea already visited or discussed.

revisory

adj

Having the power or purpose to revise or review.

revitalization

noun

The process of revitalizing.

revitalize

verb

American and Oxford British English standard spelling of revitalise.

revival

noun

A return of something, such as interest, energy, or activity, after a period of decline.

revivalist

noun

Someone who seeks to revive something.

revive

verb

To bring someone back to consciousness or restore them to health.

revivify

verb

To reanimate, bring back to life.

reviving

verb

Bringing someone or something back to life, health, or activity.

revocation

noun

An act or instance of revoking.

revoice

verb

To voice again.

Revoir

name

A French surname, a variant of Rivoire.

revoke

verb

To officially cancel or withdraw something, such as a license, law, or permission.

revolt

verb

To rise up in rebellion against authority.

revolting

adj

Causing intense disgust; repulsive.

revoltingly

adv

In a revolting manner; with repulsion or disgust.

revolution

noun

A forcible overthrow of a government or social order in favour of a new system.

revolutionary

adj

Involving a complete or dramatic change.

revolutionise

verb

To change radically or significantly, as in a revolution.

revolutionize

verb

To change something so completely and dramatically that it transforms the field.