repeat
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to say or utter again (something already said).
to repeat a word for emphasis.
-
to say or utter in reproducing the words, inflections, etc., of another.
to repeat a sentence after the teacher.
-
to reproduce (utterances, sounds, etc.) in the manner of an echo, a phonograph, or the like.
-
to tell (something heard) to another or others.
-
to do, make, or perform again.
to repeat an action.
-
to go through or undergo again.
to repeat an experience.
verb (used without object)
-
to do or say something again.
-
to cause a slight regurgitation.
The onions I ate are repeating on me.
-
to vote illegally by casting more than one vote in the same election.
noun
-
the act of repeating.
-
something repeated; repetition.
-
a duplicate or reproduction of something.
-
a decorative pattern repeated, usually by printing, on a textile or the like.
-
Music.
-
a passage to be repeated.
-
a sign, as a vertical arrangement of dots, calling for the repetition of a passage.
-
-
a radio or television program that has been broadcast at least once before.
verb
-
(when tr, may take a clause as object) to say or write (something) again, either once or several times; restate or reiterate
-
to do or experience (something) again once or several times
-
(intr) to occur more than once
the last figure repeats
-
(tr; may take a clause as object) to reproduce (the words, sounds, etc) uttered by someone else; echo
-
(tr) to utter (a poem, speech, etc) from memory; recite
-
(intr)
-
(of food) to be tasted again after ingestion as the result of belching or slight regurgitation
-
to belch
-
-
(tr; may take a clause as object) to tell to another person (the words, esp secrets, imparted to one by someone else)
-
(intr) (of a clock) to strike the hour or quarter-hour just past, when a spring is pressed
-
(intr) to vote (illegally) more than once in a single election
-
to say or do the same thing more than once, esp so as to be tedious
noun
-
-
the act or an instance of repeating
-
( as modifier )
a repeat performance
-
-
a word, action, etc, that is repeated
-
an order made out for goods, provisions, etc, that duplicates a previous order
-
a duplicate copy of something; reproduction
-
radio television a further broadcast of a programme, film, etc, which has been broadcast before
-
music a passage that is an exact restatement of the passage preceding it
Usage
Since again is part of the meaning of repeat , one should not say something is repeated again
Related Words
Repeat, recapitulate, reiterate refer to saying a thing more than once. To repeat is to do or say something over again: to repeat a question, an order. To recapitulate is to restate in brief form, to summarize, often by repeating the principal points in a discourse: to recapitulate an argument. To reiterate is to do or say something over and over again, to repeat insistently: to reiterate a refusal, a demand.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of repeat
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English repeten (verb), from Middle French repeter, from Latin repetere “to attack again, demand return of,” equivalent to re- re- + petere “to reach towards, seek” ( cf. perpetual, petulant)
Explanation
You can use the word repeat for things that happen again. You can use the word repeat for things that happen again. When you repeat, you do or say the same thing more than once. Sometimes you need to repeat what you said because someone didn’t hear it or understand it the first time, and other times you might repeat a statement for emphasis — you say it twice to really get your point across; in some cases you'll get "I heard you the first time" in return. Doing something over is another way to repeat, as when you repeat a test or draw a smiley face all over your notebooks in a repeat pattern.
Vocabulary lists containing repeat
Do-Over: Words For Groundhog Day
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Foundational Reading
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Units 6–7
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
The World Health Organization has scrambled to reassure the world that the outbreak was not a repeat of the Covid pandemic, stressing that contagion was very rare.
From Barron's • May 18, 2026
But his absence has done more than rob Roland-Garros of a potential repeat of the 5-hour, 29-minute epic he played against Sinner last spring.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026
However, standard cognitive testing can be difficult to repeat frequently because it takes time and people often improve simply from becoming familiar with the tests.
From Science Daily • May 13, 2026
The Constitutional Court said that allowing unlimited repeat applications without proper legislation in place could create a "never-ending cycle", preventing deportations and causing administrative chaos.
From BBC • May 12, 2026
When the marines had first arrived at Da Nang, the orders had been clear: “The U.S. Marine Force will not, repeat will not, engage in day-to-day actions against the Viet Cong.”
From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin
![]()
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.