repetition

[ rep-i-tish-uh n ]

/ ˌrɛp ɪˈtɪʃ ən /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR repetition ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act of repeating, or doing, saying, or writing something again; repeated action, performance, production, or presentation.

repeated utterance; reiteration.

something made by or resulting from repeating.

a reproduction, copy, or replica.

Civil Law. an action or demand for the recovery of a payment or delivery made by error or upon failure to fulfill a condition.

Nearby words

repertory, repertory company, repertory society, repertory theater, repetend, repetition, repetition-compulsion, repetitious, repetitive, repetitive dna, repetitive strain disorder

Origin of repetition

1375–1425; late Middle English (< Old French repeticion) < Latin repetītiōn- (stem of repetītiō), equivalent to repetīt(us) (past participle of repetere to repeat) + -iōn- -ion

Related forms

non·rep·e·ti·tion, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for repetition

Kendrick rapidly chants these last lines in repetition with Bilal and Anna Wise sing-shouting behind him, like a rallying cry.
Kendrick Lamar Shuts Down ‘The Colbert Report’ with Untitled Track|Charlise Ferguson|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"Nowhere to run ain't got nowhere to go," Springsteen sings before launching into the "Born in the U.S.A." chorus in repetition.
Are Politicians Too Dumb to Understand the Lyrics to ‘Born in the USA’?|Parker Molloy|November 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The repetition of that became as tastelessly titillating as showing us a torn arm or a decomposing torso.
To Truly Shame Putin, Show Us the Bodies of MH17|Tim Teeman|July 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In contrast to past beliefs, repetition may reduce the fidelity of memory representations.
Repetition Doesn’t Work: Better Ways to Train Your Memory|Gregory Ferenstein|July 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Over the long run, repetition can be a false temptress, making us think we've learning something when we really haven't.
Repetition Doesn’t Work: Better Ways to Train Your Memory|Gregory Ferenstein|July 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Many good stories have rhythm, recurrence, repetition of the leit motiv.
Picture-Work|Walter L. (Walter Lowrie) Hervey
No doubt it is a law of taste that force may be dissipated by repetition if carried beyond a certain point.
Shakespeare as a Dramatic Artist|Richard G. Moulton
By a repetition of vicious acts, evil habits have been formed within us, and have rivetted the fetters of sin.
A Practical View of the Prevailing Religious System of Professed Christians, in the Middle and Higher Classes in this Country, Contrasted with Real Christianity.|William Wilberforce
I have disobeyed your behest; but you know not how I have been urged, and my pained soul cannot support the repetition.
The Sylph, Volume I and II|Georgiana Cavendish
From the kitchen below, quavered the third repetition of Good King Wenceslas.
Twos and Threes|G. B. Stern

British Dictionary definitions for repetition

repetition

/ (ˌrɛpɪˈtɪʃən) /

noun

the act or an instance of repeating; reiteration

a thing, word, action, etc, that is repeated

a replica or copy

civil law Scots law the recovery or repayment of money paid or received by mistake, as when the same bill has been paid twice

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