repair
1 Americanverb (used with object)
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to restore to a good or sound condition after decay or damage; mend.
to repair a motor.
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to restore or renew by any process of making good, strengthening, etc..
to repair one's health by resting.
- Synonyms:
- amend, rejuvenate, renew
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to remedy; make good; put right.
to repair damage;
to repair a deficiency.
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to make amends for; compensate.
to repair a wrong done.
- Synonyms:
- redress
noun
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an act, process, or work of repairing.
to order the repair of a building.
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Usually repairs.
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an instance or operation of repairing.
to lay up a boat for repairs.
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a repaired part or an addition made in repairing.
Seventeenth-century repairs in brick are conspicuous in parts of the medieval stonework.
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repairs, (in bookkeeping, accounting, etc.) the part of maintenance expense that has been paid out to keep fixed assets in usable condition, as distinguished from amounts used for renewal or replacement.
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the good condition resulting from continued maintenance and repairing.
to keep in repair.
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condition with respect to soundness and usability.
a house in good repair.
verb (used without object)
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to betake oneself; go, as to a place.
He repaired in haste to Washington.
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to go frequently or customarily.
noun
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a resort or haunt.
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the act of going or going customarily; resort.
to have repair to the country.
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Scot. Obsolete. a meeting, association, or crowd of people.
verb
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to restore (something damaged or broken) to good condition or working order
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to heal (a breach or division) in (something)
to repair a broken marriage
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to make good or make amends for (a mistake, injury, etc)
noun
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the act, task, or process of repairing
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a part that has been repaired
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state or condition
in good repair
verb
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(usually foll by to) to go (to a place)
to repair to the country
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(usually foll by to) to have recourse (to) for help, etc
to repair to one's lawyer
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archaic (usually foll by from) to come back; return
noun
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the act of going or returning
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a haunt or resort
Related Words
See renew.
Other Word Forms
- nonrepairable adjective
- repairability noun
- repairable adjective
- repairableness noun
- repairer noun
Etymology
Origin of repair1
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English reparen, repairen, from Middle French reparer, from Latin reparāre, equivalent to re- re- + parāre to prepare; pare
Origin of repair2
First recorded 1300–50; Middle English repairen, repeiren, from Old French repairier, repeirier, “to return,” from Late Latin repatriāre “to return to one's homeland”; repatriate
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.
Twisted and torn by the sudden same-day injuries to their two best players, the Lakers are broken beyond repair.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026
Ugo Vallauri, co-director of the Restart Project, which encourages repair of electronics, said manufacturers' promises of newer devices offering better performance, when ceasing support for older products, has been seen before.
From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026
Key details: Consumers spent more in February on new cars, clothing and auto insurance and repair.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026
It will take a while to repair damaged infrastructure in Persian Gulf countries.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026
My dad’s company, Duros Construction, does roofing and roof repair all around Chokecherry and Shadbush County.
From "Linked" by Gordon Korman
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.
