What does relace mean?
Relace means to tie or fasten something again, most often a shoe or boot by replacing or tightening its shoelace. The word is especially useful when a lace has come loose, has been untied, or needs to be renewed. In everyday conversation, a person might more simply say “tie your shoes again,” but “relace” sounds more specific because it points to fastening an item with a lace rather than performing a general act of tying. It is particularly common in descriptions of walking, hiking, repair work, and footwear. Although relacing can also refer more broadly to fastening again, its familiar application is the familiar problem of a loosened or broken shoelace. The prefix re- indicates repetition, while lace identifies the material or feature being fastened.
verbTo tie or fasten again, especially by replacing or tightening a shoelace.
- To tie or fasten again, especially a shoe by threading and tightening its lace.
"He had to stop and relace his shoes before he could continue walking."
"Rain had washed the path full of mud, so she stopped to relace her boots."
"The cobbler asked him to relace the old boots before collecting them."
Relace gives shoelaces a second life—and occasionally saves a walk that was about to end badly.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does relace come from?
Relace is formed from the prefix re-, meaning “again,” and the verb lace, meaning “to fasten with a lace.” The word therefore literally describes fastening with a lace a second time. English lace ultimately comes through Old French from a Latin word associated with a rope or cord, a development connected with the wider family of Romance and Latin rope terms.
Related word forms
How relace is actually used
Relace is uncommon in general conversation but natural in footwear, repair, and outdoor contexts. It normally implies fastening an item again rather than simply tightening a lace that is already in place.
Easily confused with relace
Relacing means fastening or tying again, usually with a shoelace, whereas replacing means putting something else in its place.