repercussion
Americannoun
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an effect or result, often indirect or remote, of some event or action.
The repercussions of the quarrel were widespread.
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the state of being driven back by a resisting body.
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a rebounding or recoil of something after impact.
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reverberation; echo.
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Music. (in a fugue) the point after the development of an episode at which the subject and answer appear again.
noun
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(often plural) a result or consequence, esp one that is somewhat removed from the action or event which precipitated it
the repercussions of the war are still keenly felt
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a recoil after impact; a rebound
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a reflection, esp of sound; echo or reverberation
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music the reappearance of a fugal subject and answer after an episode
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of repercussion
1375–1425; late Middle English (< Middle French ) < Latin repercussiōn- (stem of repercussiō ) a rebounding, equivalent to repercuss ( us ) (past participle of repercutere to strike back) + -iōn- -ion. See re-, percussion
Explanation
A repercussion is something that happens because of another action. You could quit paying your rent, but getting evicted from your apartment might be the repercussion. Repercussion may remind you slightly of concussion or percussion — what they all have in common is the idea of something (a head, a drum) getting hit. With repercussion, the hitting is the action, and the result (i.e., the repercussion) is like hearing an echo of that original strike over and over as it reverberates through the air.
Vocabulary lists containing repercussion
"All Summer in a Day" by Ray Bradbury
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Repercussion and retribution arrived Friday with a thud.
From New York Times • Jun. 17, 2016
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
