prep
Very common
re
ree
Re (prep) means concerning or with reference to something, commonly used to introduce the subject of a letter, email, or document. Example: “Re: your email of Monday, the shipment has now been dispatched.”
prep
1
Concerning or with reference to something, commonly used to introduce the subject of a letter, email, or document.
"Re: your email of Monday, the shipment has now been dispatched."
"Re: the meeting room booking, please confirm which floor you need."
"I am writing re the broken heating in flat four."
noun
1
In music, the second note of the major musical scale in solfège (do, re, mi...).
"The choir practiced the "re" note until it was perfectly in tune."
"In the song, the melody climbs from do to re and then to mi."
"The teacher pointed to the board and asked the class to sing re."
How to use re
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA short word meaning "about" or "regarding," and also a musical note name.
Common pairings
re: your message
do re mi
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Word forms
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_____: your email of Monday, the shipment has now been dispatched.
Etymology
From Latin re, the ablative form of res ("thing, matter"), used in Latin legal phrases such as in re ("in the matter of").
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “re” mean?
The word “re” means concerning or with reference to something, commonly used to introduce the subject of a letter, email, or document. In plain terms, a short word meaning "about" or "regarding," and also a musical note name.
How do you pronounce “re”?
“Re” is pronounced ree (/ɹiː/ in IPA).
How do you use “re” in a sentence?
Here is “re” used in a sentence: “Re: your email of Monday, the shipment has now been dispatched.”
What part of speech is “re”?
Depending on how it is used, “re” can be a preposition and a noun.
Where does the word “re” come from?
The word “re” comes from Latin. From Latin re, the ablative form of res ("thing, matter"), used in Latin legal phrases such as in re ("in the matter of").
Is “re” a common word?
“Re” is a very common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “re” have?
“Re” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: concerning or with reference to something, commonly used to introduce the subject of a letter, email, or document.
What does 're' mean in an email or letter?
"Re" means "regarding" or "concerning," and it introduces the subject of a message. Writing "Re: staff meeting" signals that what follows is about the staff meeting. It comes from the Latin "res," meaning "matter" or "thing," and has long been used at the head of letters and memos.
Is 're' short for 'reply' or 'regarding'?
Strictly, "re" means "regarding," not "reply." The confusion arises because email programs automatically add "Re:" to the subject line when you reply, so many people read it as short for "reply." In its original sense, though, it simply flags the topic that a message concerns.
How do you use 're' correctly?
Place "re" before the subject at the start of a letter, memo, or email — for example, "Re: your order of 5 June." It works as a heading rather than inside a sentence. In formal writing, avoid using "re" mid-sentence as a casual substitute for "about."
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