repent

¹ American  

[ri-pent] / rɪˈpɛnt /

verb (used without object)

1. to feel sorry, self-reproachful, or contrite for past conduct; regret or be conscience-stricken about a past action, attitude, etc. (often followed byof ).

   He repented after his thoughtless act.

2. to feel such sorrow for sin or fault as to be disposed to change one's life for the better; be penitent.

---

verb (used with object)

1. to remember or regard with self-reproach or contrition.

   to repent one's injustice to another.

2. to feel sorry for; regret.

   to repent an imprudent act.

repent ² American  

[ree-puhnt, ri-pent] / ˈri pənt, rɪˈpɛnt /

adjective

1. creeping.

---

repent ¹ British  

/ rɪˈpɛnt /

verb

1. to feel remorse (for); be contrite (about); show penitence (for)

   he repents of his extravagance

   he repented his words

---

repent ² British  

/ ˈriːpənt /

adjective

1. botany lying or creeping along the ground; reptant

   repent stems

---

Other Word Forms

• repenter noun
• repentingly adverb
• unrepented adjective
• unrepenting adjective
• unrepentingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of repent¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English repenten, from Old French repentir, from re- re- + pentir “to feel sorrow” (from Latin paenitēre “to regret, be sorry”; penitent )

Origin of repent²

First recorded in 1660–70; from Latin rēpent- stem of rēpēns “crawling,” present participle of rēpere “to crawl, creep”; perhaps akin to serpere “to creep, crawl” ( serpent ( def. ) )

Example Sentences

“I can’t repent … I was sincere, I don’t know how to repent.”

From Literature

For me, the ash cross symbolizes how to repent—at the cross.

From The Wall Street Journal

In several cases, countries that arrived at trade deals with the U.S. later repented because their deals were too one-sided, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Among the foreign women held in the camps, many have repented and asked to go home, she said.

From Barron's

Grinch boosters point out that the villain repents and reforms at the end of the story, shedding his pathological hatred of Christmas.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• apologize
• atone
• deplore