To reiterate means to say something again, usually to make sure people understood it or remembered it. When your teacher reiterates the instructions for a project, she's repeating them because they're important. When a coach reiterates the game plan at halftime, he's going over it again to keep everyone focused.

Reiterate is stronger than just casually repeating yourself. It suggests you're saying something again deliberately and with purpose. You might repeat “um” or “like” without meaning to, but you reiterate your main point because you want to emphasize it. A speaker might reiterate her key message at the end of a presentation. A parent might reiterate the family rules after someone breaks them.

When you see or hear someone reiterate something, pay attention: they're signaling that what they're saying matters enough to say twice.