Meaning & use
respool
Last updated
Meanings
verbtransitive
to wind something back onto a spool or reel, often after it has come off
Grammar: Takes an object: respool the line. It can also be used without an object when the thing being wound is clear.
Patterns
- respool something
- respool something onto something
After the fishing trip, he had to respool the line onto the reel.
The machine can respool the wire automatically.
She respooled the ribbon carefully so it would not tangle.
verbtransitive
to put something onto a new spool or reel
Grammar: Takes an object: respool the cable onto a new drum.
Patterns
- respool something onto something
They respooled the old film onto fresh reels.
We need to respool the thread onto a larger spool.
Word forms
| third person singular | respoools |
|---|---|
| past tense | respooled |
| past participle | respooled |
| -ing form | respooling |
Common combinations
- respool the line
- He stopped fishing to respool the line.
- respool the wire
- The technician had to respool the wire after it jammed.
- respool onto a reel
- Respool the thread onto a reel before storing it.
Synonyms and how they differ
- rewind
- Rewind is more general and means to wind something back to an earlier point, not necessarily onto a spool.
- wind
- Wind is the basic verb for turning something around; respool is more specific and implies a spool or reel.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: respool or unspool?
respool vs unspool
Unspool means to unwind or come off a spool, the opposite of respool.
Practice
The fishing line was tangled, so I had to ___ it onto the reel again.
Choose one answer.
Respool means to wind something back onto a spool or reel, which fits the idea of putting the line back on the reel. Unspool means the opposite—to unwind—and 'spool off' and 'reel in' do not mean winding onto a spool.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “respool”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.