Meaning & use
reconversion
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Meanings
noununcountable
The process of changing something back to an earlier state or giving it a new purpose.
Grammar: No plural when talking about the process in general: reconversion of the site took years.
Patterns
- reconversion of something
- reconversion into something
- reconversion to something
The reconversion of the old factory into apartments took three years.
Government funding supported the reconversion of military land for public parks.
After the war, the reconversion of industry to peacetime production was slow.
nouncountable
A single case of changing a building, machine, or system to a different use.
Grammar: Use 'a' or a plural when counting specific projects: two reconversions.
Patterns
- a reconversion of something
- carry out a reconversion
The city approved a reconversion of the warehouse into a school.
Two reconversions of former army bases are now under way.
Word forms
| plural | reconversions |
|---|
Common combinations
- reconversion of a building
- The reconversion of the building cost millions.
- industrial reconversion
- Industrial reconversion created new jobs in the region.
- reconversion into housing
- The reconversion into housing changed the neighborhood.
- economic reconversion
- Economic reconversion followed the closure of the mines.
Synonyms and how they differ
- conversion
- More general and does not suggest returning to an earlier state; 'reconversion' stresses the change back or reuse.
- repurposing
- Focuses on giving a new use, often for buildings; it is less formal than 'reconversion'.
Word family
- reconvert verb
- To change something back or give it a new purpose.
- convert verb
- To change something into a different form or use.
- conversion noun
- The act of changing something into another form or use.
Commonly confused: reconversion or conversion?
reconversion vs conversion
'Conversion' is any change; 'reconversion' usually means changing back or reusing something after its first purpose ends.
Practice
The ___ of the old mill into offices created space for fifty workers.
Choose one answer.
'Reconversion' is the noun needed after 'the'. 'Reconvert' is a verb, 'reconverted' is a past form, and 'reconversions' is plural, which does not fit the singular phrase.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “reconversion”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.