Retell

/ɹiˈtɛl/

Synonyms for "retell" (66 found)

Ranked by relevance and common usage.

Choosing the right synonym

  • Closest matches in this entry: restate, adapt, allegorize, battologize, fable.
  • Sentence evidence is available for retell, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
  • Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.

Synonym selection checklist

  • Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
  • Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
  • Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "retell".
  • Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.

When not to replace "retell"

Keep "retell" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.

If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.

Replacement workflow

1. Preserve meaning

Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "retell" intact in the sentence you are editing.

2. Tune tone

Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.

3. Re-read context

Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.

Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.

Final fit check

After choosing a replacement for "retell", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.

If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "retell" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.

Related word relations

OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.

5 relation types

More general

4 entries

More specific

5 entries

Collocations

6 entries
oral retellretell a storyretell aloudretell in own wordsretell the plotretelling exercise

Inflections

3 entries

Derivations

3 entries

Sample sentences

6 total sentences available.

Tatoeba + Wiktionary

Use your own words to retell the content of the lesson.

Source: tatoeba (1394157)

I will try to retell it in my own words.

Source: tatoeba (10660476)

During the spring of 1931, Ben Black Elk translated his father's words for writer John Neihardt. In the years that followed, and particularly after his father's death in 1950, Ben Black Elk became one of the last links to the "old ways" of his people. He often visited local schools to retell traditional stories of Lakota history and culture to students. Some of those sessions were recorded by Lakota educator Warfield Moose, Sr., who entrusted the tapes to his son in 1996.

Source: tatoeba (12244029)

She will retell the story from her perspective in the next meeting.

Source: wiktionary

Showing 4 of 6 available sentences.

Common questions

What are the closest synonyms for "retell"?

Closest matches include restate, adapt, allegorize, battologize, fable.

How should I check whether a synonym fits "retell"?

Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.

More for "retell"