Meaning & use
restructure
Last updated
Meanings
verbtransitive
To organize something, such as a company or a system, in a new and different way.
Grammar: Takes an object: restructure the company. Often used with 'into' or 'as': restructure the department into smaller teams.
Patterns
- restructure something
- restructure something into something
- restructure something as something
The new CEO decided to restructure the company into three divisions.
We need to restructure the course so that it fits a shorter semester.
The government plans to restructure the tax system next year.
verbtransitivefinance
To change the terms of a debt or loan so that it is easier to pay back.
Grammar: Takes an object, often 'debt', 'loan', or 'mortgage'. Common in finance.
Patterns
- restructure a debt
- restructure a loan
- restructure debt
The airline restructured its debt to avoid bankruptcy.
They negotiated with the bank to restructure the loan over ten years.
The company restructured its debts after a difficult year.
Word forms
| third person singular | restructures |
|---|---|
| past tense | restructured |
| past participle | restructured |
| -ing form | restructuring |
Common combinations
- restructure a company
- The board voted to restructure the company.
- restructure debt
- The firm restructured its debt to stay afloat.
- restructure the organization
- They restructured the organization to reduce costs.
- restructure into something
- The department was restructured into two separate units.
- a plan to restructure
- The board announced a plan to restructure the business.
Synonyms and how they differ
- reorganize
- Reorganize is close but often suggests changing the internal order or arrangement; restructure can imply more fundamental changes to the whole system.
- reform
- Reform is used for improving a system or institution, often in politics or education; restructure focuses on changing the structure.
- rearrange
- Rearrange is usually physical or less drastic, like moving furniture; restructure is about major organizational change.
Word family
- restructuring noun
- The act of organizing something in a new way, especially a company or debt.
- structure noun
- The way in which parts are arranged or organized.
Commonly confused: restructure or restructure?
restructure vs restructure
Not to be confused with 'reconstruct', which means to build again after damage.
Practice
The company plans to ______ its operations into two separate businesses.
Choose one answer.
After 'to' in an infinitive, we need the base form 'restructure'. 'Restructuring' is the -ing form, 'restructured' is past tense, and 'restructures' is third person singular, none of which fit after 'to'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “restructure”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.