rerun — English Dictionary

Noun

1. An act or instance of rerunning; a repetition.

   Examples

   Even some strong supporters of leaving the UK worry that an early re-run would be doomed to failure.

   More examples (1)

   The central concern that runs through The Technology Trap is that, unless we are very careful, our latest technological revolution may well turn out to be a tumultuous rerun of the Industrial Revolution, with dire social and political consequences.

2. A television program shown after its initial presentation, particularly many weeks after its initial presentation; a repeat.

   Usage

   • US usage

   Synonyms

   repeat

   Examples

   I'm not a fan of the new Simpsons episodes, but the old reruns have me in stitches, although I've seen them countless times.

3. Another printing run (impression; batch of copies of a given edition) of a book, cartoon, etc.

4. A political candidate who holds the same political agenda or doctrine as a past or incumbent holder of a given political office.

5. A second or subsequent run of a computer program.

   Examples

   Each rerun of the algorithm takes several minutes.

Verb

1. To run again; to repeat.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   Ms. Hill has rerun those questions in her mind. “If the girls told me they want to stay where they are, I would have to leave them,” she said.

2. To broadcast (a television program etc.) again.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Synonyms

   reair

   Examples

   They're still rerunning The Flintstones on this channel.

   More examples (1)

   Earlier Sunday, MTV ran and reran a compilation of Ms. Spears’s previous appearances on the show, including her high-school hottie debut in 1999 and her on-the-lips kiss with Madonna in 2003, glossing over her lethargic dance number last year.

3. To be broadcast again.

   Usage

   • Intransitive

   Synonyms

   reair

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   Everyone is talking about Lemonade, Beyoncé's new visual album that immediately became a sensation when it debuted on HBO on Saturday night. For those who missed it (and those without a loved one's HBO Go password), Lemonade even reran just before the Game of Thrones' highly anticipated season six premiere on April 24.

4. To run (a race or other contest) again.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   rerun the election

   More examples (1)

   Thursday night, running in Lane 2 on an otherwise empty eight-lane track, at a half-empty Olympic Stadium, the United States women’s 4x100-meter relay team reran a qualifying round all by itself.

5. To run (a computer program) again.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   Restart the computer and rerun the installation.

Noun

1. a program that is broadcast again

   Broader terms

   broadcastprogramprogramme

   Examples

   she likes to watch ‘I love Lucy’ reruns

Verb

1. broadcast again, as of a film

   Synonyms

   rebroadcast

   Broader terms

   airsendbroadcastbeamtransmit

2. rerun a performance of a play, for example

   Broader terms

   mountput on

3. run again for office

   Broader terms

   campaignrun

   Examples

   Bush wants to rerun in 1996

4. cause to perform again

   Broader terms

   run

   Examples

   We have to rerun the subjects — they misunderstood the instructions