rerun meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

rerun

noun

UK /ˈɹiːɹʌn/ · US /ˈɹiɹʌn/

Etymology From re- + run.

An act or instance of rerunning; a repetition.

Even some strong supporters of leaving the UK worry that an early re-run would be doomed to failure.2017 February 27, Mure Dickie, Henry Mance, “Theresa May’s speech to head off Scottish independence poll”, in Financial Times:
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.2019 July 11, John Thornhill, “Does tech threaten to rerun the worst of the Industrial Revolution?”, in Financial Times:

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

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.

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

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

Computing, Engineering, Mathematics, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Sciences A second or subsequent run of a computer program.

verb

/ɹiːˈɹʌn/ · /ɹiˈɹʌn/

Etymology From re- + run.

To run again; to repeat.

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.2013 July 6, N. R. Kleinfield, “The Girls Who Haven’t Come Home”, in The New York Times:

To broadcast (a television program etc.) again.

They're still rerunning The Flintstones on this channel.
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.2008 September 8, Jon Pareles, “At the MTV Video Music Awards, a Big Draw, a Punch Line and, Now, a Winner”, in The New York Times:

To be broadcast again.

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 24.2016 April 28, Caroline Framke, “Beyoncé's Lemonade is on iTunes and Amazon — but will only stream on Tidal and Pandora”, in Vox:

To run (a race or other contest) again.

rerun the election
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.2016 August 18, Jeré Longman, “U.S. Women Drop Baton, but Advance After a Second Chance”, in The New York Times:

To run (a computer program) again.