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

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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.

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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)

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noun

1. the act, task, or process of repairing

2. a part that has been repaired

3. state or condition

   in good repair

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

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noun

1. the act of going or returning

2. 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; see 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”; see origin at repatriate

Explanation

To repair means to fix or mend something so that it is in good working order again. If you forget to put oil in your car and you blow the engine, it's going to cost you an awful lot to repair it. Not only does repair describe the act of fixing something, it can also be used as a noun for the fixing itself, as in “Who did the repair on this house? It looks terrible!” In a totally different meaning, if you repair somewhere, you return back to or go to a place for rest or shelter. If you're outside and it begins to rain, you might want to repair to the house where it's dry.

Example Sentences

When the group arrived, one of bikes had damage to its frame that was beyond repair.

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026

"The school was also damaged in the previous war and we were unable to repair it," she said, referring to the 2024 conflict.

From Barron's • Apr. 21, 2026

It will take at least that long to begin to repair it.

From Salon • Apr. 20, 2026

In that case, filed last year, the FTC accused Deere of having an illegal monopoly on repair services.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 19, 2026

Naima’s mind raced ahead to the long afternoon rests Father would take before driving her to the repair shop.

From "Rickshaw Girl" by Mitali Perkins

Related Words

• compensate for
• correct
• heal
• improve
• mend
• overhaul
• patch
• rebuild
• recover
• rectify
• refurbish
• remedy
• renovate
• retrieve
• revamp
• revive