re

¹

[ rey ]

noun

, Music.

1. the syllable used for the second tone of a diatonic scale.
2. (in the fixed system of solmization) the tone D. Compare sol-fa ( def 1 ).

re

²

[ ree, rey ]

preposition

, Chiefly Law and Commerce.

1. in the case of; with reference to; in re.

're

³

[ er ]

1. contraction of are: They're leaving.

Re

⁴

[ rey ]

noun

, Egyptian Religion.

1. Ra.

Re

⁵

Symbol, Chemistry.

1. rhenium.

R/E

⁶

or RE

1. real estate.

re-

⁷

1. a prefix, occurring originally in loanwords from Latin, used with the meaning “again” or “again and again” to indicate repetition, or with the meaning “back” or “backward” to indicate withdrawal or backward motion:

   regenerate; refurbish; retype; retrace; revert.

Re.

⁸

or re.

abbreviation for

1. rupee.

r.e.

⁹

abbreviation for

, Football.

1. right end.

R.E.

¹⁰

abbreviation for

1. real estate.
2. Reformed Episcopal.
3. Right Excellent.

Re

¹

symbol for

1. rupee

re

²

/ riː /

preposition

1. with reference to

Re

³

the chemical symbol for

1. rhenium

re

⁴

the internet domain name for

1. Reunion Island

're

⁵

contraction of

1. are

   we're

   they're

   you're

re-

⁶

prefix

1. indicating return to a previous condition, restoration, withdrawal, etc

   retrace

   rebuild

   reunite

   renew

2. indicating repetition of an action

   remarry

   recopy

RE

⁷

abbreviation for

1. Reformed Episcopal
2. Religious Education
3. Right Excellent
4. Royal Engineers

Re

⁸

/ reɪ /

noun

1. another name for Ra 2

re

⁹

/ riː; reɪ /

noun

1. music a variant spelling of ray 3

Usage Note

See contraction.

Usage

Re , in contexts such as re your letter, your remarks have been noted or he spoke to me re your complaint , is common in business or official correspondence. In general English with reference to is preferable in the former case and about or concerning in the latter. Even in business correspondence, the use of re is often restricted to the letter heading

Verbs beginning with re- indicate repetition or restoration. It is unnecessary to add an adverb such as back or again : This must not occur again (not recur again ); we recounted the votes (not recounted the votes again , which implies that the votes were counted three times, not twice)

Word History and Origins

Origin of re¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English; gamut

Origin of re²

First recorded in 1700–10; from Latin rē “(in the) matter, affair, thing,” ablative of rēs

Origin of re³

Middle English < Latin re-, red-

Word History and Origins

Origin of re¹

C18: from Latin rē , ablative case of rēs thing

Origin of re²

from Latin

Example Sentences

“It’s about power and who controls public education. It’s about what kind of America we were and are. We’re trying to define what family is and what America means. That comes down to the stories we tell.”

From Los Angeles Times

Tiffany Justice, co-founder of Moms for Liberty, has criticized schools that she says spend too much time on diversity and inclusion when only about one-third of U.S. children are reading at grade level: “We’re talking about public school libraries and content for kids,” Justice told NewsNation after Trump’s victory.

From Los Angeles Times

“I think it’s very clear that there are certain things that are appropriate for kids, certain things that are appropriate for adults. We’re just getting back to commonsense America.”

From Los Angeles Times

Olsen: We’re recording this on the day after the U.S. presidential election.

From Los Angeles Times

I always feel that these women are a huge responsibility to take on to play because I know that they speak to so many of us and that they’re, in a way, to encourage us to be as much of ourselves as we possibly can be and to fight for that.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• depend on
• rest on