What does reexamining mean?
Reexamining means examining something again, with the usual implication that the earlier examination may need revision. A person might reexamine evidence, a conclusion, a policy, a plan, or a personal judgment. The word often carries a critical or corrective connotation: the second look may confirm the original view, but it may also reveal an overlooked detail, error, or alternative interpretation. It is especially common in academic, legal, scientific, and editorial contexts, where established findings or arguments are assessed again in light of new material. In everyday use, it can also describe reconsidering a decision: someone who reexamines a choice may decide to keep it after thinking carefully. The prefix re- clearly distinguishes the action from a first examination, while examining supplies the central idea of close analysis and scrutiny.
verbTo examine or consider something again, especially in order to reconsider a previous conclusion, decision, or interpretation.
- To inspect, analyze, or investigate something again.
- To reconsider a previous decision, conclusion, belief, or interpretation.
"The committee reexamined the evidence before reaching a new conclusion."
"Researchers reexamined the samples using a more sensitive instrument."
"After hearing the new evidence, she reexamined her initial judgment."
Reexamining is the useful habit of giving a familiar question a second look—and sometimes seeing what the first look missed.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does reexamining come from?
Reexamining is formed in English by combining the prefix re-, meaning “again,” with examining, the present participle of examine. Examine ultimately comes through French from Latin examinare, a verb meaning “to test, inspect, or weigh carefully.” The same Latin root underlies related English words such as exam, examiner, and examinee. Reexamining consequently carries the ordinary English meaning of examine together with the straightforward sense of doing so again.
Related word forms
How reexamining is actually used
Common in formal and academic contexts as well as ordinary speech. It often implies renewed attention or reconsideration rather than merely repeating an examination.
Easily confused with reexamining
Examining means inspecting or investigating something, whereas reexamining means doing so again, often with the purpose of reconsidering an earlier conclusion.