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

"An effective cure will need to reach people around the world, and by leveraging traditional African ethnomedicine, we're making progress toward a cure with accessibility in mind."

From Science Daily

Brawny yet sensitive, Smith channels the depth of his many experiences into his sturdy, riff-driven songs, which is one reason they’re connecting: This year his hit “World on Fire” spent 10 straight weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s country radio chart, a stay equaled by only Wallen’s “You Proof”; Smith quickly followed it with another chart-topper in “Bulletproof,” the twangy lead single from his sophomore LP, “California Gold.”

From Los Angeles Times

“I’m friends with Chad because we’re both signed to the same management company,” Smith says over drinks during a recent visit to Los Angeles.

From Los Angeles Times

“You don’t recognize where you’re at anymore,” he says.

From Los Angeles Times

“This information being sold or shared with data brokers and other entities hypercharge the online profiling that we’re so used to at this point, and the more sensitive the data, the more sophisticated the profiling can be,” Bernstein said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• depend on
• rest on