To rename something means to give it a new name, replacing the old one. When your family adopts a shelter dog named Spartacus but decides to call him Buddy instead, you're renaming him. Cities sometimes rename streets to honor important people: a road once called Main Street might be renamed Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

Renaming can happen for many reasons. A company might rename a product to make it sound more appealing to customers. A country gaining independence might rename its capital city to reflect its new identity. You might rename a file on your computer to help you remember what's in it, changing “homework.doc” to “science_project_final.doc.”

Sometimes renaming is simple and practical, like when you create a new label for something. Other times it carries deeper meaning, as when someone changes their own name to mark a fresh start or to honor their heritage. Either way, renaming gives something a new identity while the thing itself remains the same.