anew

anew — adverb

1. once more, often by starting over or by using a fresh approach.

1.adverbC1
Definition

once more, often by starting over or by using a fresh approach.

Example

After the fire, the family chose to build their shop anew on the same street.

build + something + anew

When spring came, Rosa planted the whole garden anew with white flowers.

doing something again differently

Common collocations
  • begin anew
  • start anew
  • build anew
  • see anew
  • consider anew
Synonyms
  • again

    the broad everyday choice; it does not always suggest a fresh start

  • afresh

    close in meaning, also slightly formal, often stressing renewed attention

  • from scratch

    stronger; means starting from nothing already prepared

Grammar Patterns

begin/start + anew

do/build/create + something + anew

see/look at/consider + something + anew

Usage Note

Usually follows the verb or the object, not the verb directly before it. More formal and literary than 'again'; it often adds the idea of a fresh start or of seeing the same thing with new understanding.

Common Mistakes

We need an anew plan for the store.
We need a new plan for the store.
'anew' is an adverb, not an adjective before a noun.
Let's anew start the game after lunch.
Let's start the game anew after lunch.
'anew' normally comes after the verb or after the object.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

These words overlap, but they do not point to exactly the same idea. 'Again' is the everyday choice when you simply mean one more time: 'Please read it again.' 'Anew' is more formal or literary and usually suggests either a fresh start or a new way of seeing something: 'After the storm, the family built their home anew.' 'Afresh' is very close to 'anew', but it often carries a sense of renewed attention or energy, especially in careful writing. 'From scratch' is more concrete and stronger: it means starting with nothing already prepared, as in cooking, coding, or planning. If you only mean repetition, choose 'again'. If you want the feeling of restarting or rethinking with fresh eyes, 'anew' fits better.

anew ↗again ↗afreshfrom scratch ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • begin anew
  • start anew
  • look at something anew
  • see something anew
  • consider something anew

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

This word comes from Middle English, built from the old prefix 'a-' joined to 'new'. It first carried the idea of doing something in a new way, and from there developed the modern meaning of starting or seeing things again with a fresh approach. Today it survives mostly in formal and literary English, while everyday speech usually prefers 'again'.