Meaning & use
re-structure
Last updated
Meanings
verbtransitive
To organize something in a new way, especially a company or system, to make it work better.
Grammar: Takes an object: re-structure the company.
Patterns
- re-structure something
- re-structure something into something
The company decided to re-structure its management to improve efficiency.
The government plans to re-structure the tax system next year.
verbtransitive
To change the basic structure or arrangement of something.
Grammar: Can be used in passive: The department was re-structured.
Patterns
- re-structure something
- re-structure something to do something
They re-structured the essay to make it clearer.
The team was re-structured to focus on new projects.
Word forms
| third person singular | re-structures |
|---|---|
| past tense | re-structured |
| past participle | re-structured |
| -ing form | re-structuring |
Common combinations
- re-structure a company
- The CEO decided to re-structure the company.
- re-structure debt
- The country needed to re-structure its debt.
- re-structure an organization
- They re-structured the organization to cut costs.
- re-structure the economy
- The new government promised to re-structure the economy.
Synonyms and how they differ
- reorganize
- Very similar, but often implies changing the way things are arranged rather than the basic structure.
- rearrange
- Means to change the order or position of things; re-structure is more about the overall system or organization.
Word family
- restructuring noun
- The act of organizing something in a new way.
- structural adjective
- Relating to the structure of something.
Commonly confused: re-structure or restructure?
re-structure vs restructure
This is the same word without a hyphen. Both are correct, but restructure is more common in American English.
Practice
The board decided to _____ the company into three separate divisions.
Choose one answer.
Re-structure means to organize in a new way, which fits dividing a company into divisions. Reconstruct means to build again, reproduce means to make a copy, and rebel means to fight against authority. Only re-structure fits the context of reorganizing a company.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “re-structure”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.