recalibrate
/ˌriːˈkæl.ɪ.breɪt/ IELTSAcademic
verb
To adjust something again so it works better or gives a more accurate result. It often means making small changes after checking how things are going.
- We need to recalibrate the machine.
- The team recalibrated its plan after the delay.
- The sensor was recalibrated this morning.
Adinary Nuance
Recalibrate is more precise than just adjust. It usually suggests checking a setting, plan, or method and then changing it carefully. Compared with readjust, it sounds a little more technical and is often used in business, science, and planning.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- hiệu chỉnh lại
- Spanish
- recalibrar
- Chinese
- 重新校准
- Japanese
- 再調整する
- Korean
- 재조정하다
Etymology
Recalibrate combines re- plus calibrate. Calibrate came into English from French in the 18th century, originally from a term for measuring and setting instruments.
Common phrases
recalibrate a machinerecalibrate expectationsrecalibrate your strategyrecalibrate the system
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is recalibrate formal or informal?
- It is fairly formal and common in technical or business writing.
- What is the difference between recalibrate and adjust?
- Adjust is broader. Recalibrate often means making a careful correction after measuring or checking.
- Can I use recalibrate for plans and goals?
- Yes. People often say recalibrate a strategy, goal, or expectation.
- Is recalibrate common in spoken English?
- It is understood in speech, but it is more common in written English.