rekey

R1E1K5E1Y4
/ɹiːˈkiː/

verb

To enter information into a device, such as a keyboard or keypad, after it has been done at least once before.

“She had to rekey the security code.”

Similar
reenterreinput
OriginEnglish key ← Middle English keye ← Old English cǣġ →
UncommonScrabble 12
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Meanings

verbrekey (third-person singular simple present rekeys, present participle rekeying, simple past and past participle rekeyed)

present singular third person rekeys · participle present rekeying · participle past rekeyed · past rekeyed

  1. computingTo enter information into a device, such as a keyboard or keypad, after it has been done at least once before.

    She had to rekey the security code.

    Synonyms: reenter, reinput

  2. To modify (a lock or its cylinder) to change which keys will open it.
  3. human sciencesTo change the key or tenor of; to reframe.

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo enter information into a device, such as a keyboard or keypad, after it has been done at least once before.

Similar
reenterreinput
Also see
rekeyboard

Origin

  1. Proto-Italic*wre-
  2. Latinre-
  3. Old Frenchre-
  4. Middle Englishre-
  5. Englishre-
  6. Proto-West Germanic*kaiju
  7. Old Englishcǣġ
  8. Middle Englishkeye
  9. Englishkey
  10. Englishrekey

From re- + key.

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with rekey

thebewefreeheseeemerebtdshedepgthreevcdkeyzcommitteeiddegree
All rhymes →

Anagrams

keyerKreyeKyreereeky
Cite this entry
APA

rekey. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rekey

MLA

“rekey.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rekey. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “rekey,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rekey.

Source: rekey on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.