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Synonyms

repair

1 American  
[ri-pair] / rɪˈpɛər /

verb (used with object)

  1. to restore to a good or sound condition after decay or damage; mend.

    to repair a motor.

    Synonyms:
    renovate, remodel, fix
    Antonyms:
    destroy, break
  2. to restore or renew by any process of making good, strengthening, etc..

    to repair one's health by resting.

    Synonyms:
    amend, rejuvenate, renew
  3. to remedy; make good; put right.

    to repair damage;

    to repair a deficiency.

    Synonyms:
    recoup, retrieve
  4. to make amends for; compensate.

    to repair a wrong done.

    Synonyms:
    redress

noun

  1. an act, process, or work of repairing.

    to order the repair of a building.

  2. Usually repairs.

    1. an instance or operation of repairing.

      to lay up a boat for repairs.

    2. a repaired part or an addition made in repairing.

      Seventeenth-century repairs in brick are conspicuous in parts of the medieval stonework.

  3. 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.

  4. the good condition resulting from continued maintenance and repairing.

    to keep in repair.

  5. condition with respect to soundness and usability.

    a house in good repair.

repair 2 American  
[ri-pair] / rɪˈpɛər /

verb (used without object)

  1. to betake oneself; go, as to a place.

    He repaired in haste to Washington.

  2. to go frequently or customarily.


noun

  1. a resort or haunt.

  2. the act of going or going customarily; resort.

    to have repair to the country.

  3. Scot. Obsolete. a meeting, association, or crowd of people.

repair 1 British  
/ rɪˈpɛə /

verb

  1. to restore (something damaged or broken) to good condition or working order

  2. to heal (a breach or division) in (something)

    to repair a broken marriage

  3. to make good or make amends for (a mistake, injury, etc)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. the act, task, or process of repairing

  2. a part that has been repaired

  3. state or condition

    in good repair

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
repair 2 British  
/ rɪˈpɛə /

verb

  1. (usually foll by to) to go (to a place)

    to repair to the country

  2. (usually foll by to) to have recourse (to) for help, etc

    to repair to one's lawyer

  3. archaic (usually foll by from) to come back; return

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. the act of going or returning

  2. a haunt or resort

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

This buildup interferes with the cell's usual repair signals.

From Science Daily

The Canal and River Trust previously told the BBC that repairs to the damaged canal could take months to complete, and could cost millions of pounds.

From BBC

Scores of residents flocked to a cramped shop in Hong Kong's old district to bid farewell to the city's "king of umbrellas", who is retiring after spending decades repairing umbrellas at his family business.

From Barron's

The Englishman, now 18, was treated at Warrington Hospital to repair strabismus - a condition where the eyes do not align - although surgery is not always required.

From BBC

Other colours tend to be "repairs added a lot later, including a bright orange and an almost-black".

From BBC