reinvent the wheel

re·in·vent the wheel

R r

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [ree-in-vent stressed th ee hweel, weel]
- /ˌri ɪnˈvɛnt stressed ði ʰwil, wil/

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [ree-in-vent stressed th ee hweel, weel]
- /ˌri ɪnˈvɛnt stressed ði ʰwil, wil/

Definitions of reinvent the wheel words

noun Technical meaning of reinvent the wheel (jargon) To design or implement a tool equivalent to an existing one or part of one, with the implication that doing so is silly or a waste of time. This is often a valid criticism. On the other hand, automobiles don't use wooden rollers, and some kinds of wheel have to be reinvented many times before you get them right. On the third hand, people reinventing the wheel do tend to come up with the moral equivalent of a trapezoid with an offset axle. 1
phrase reinvent the wheel If someone is trying to reinvent the wheel, they are trying to do something that has already been done successfully. 0

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 86% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.

Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

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