rappel

verb

rap·​pel rə-ˈpel 

ra-

rappelled also rappeled; rappelling also rappeling

intransitive verb

: to descend (as from a cliff) by sliding down a rope passed under one thigh, across the body, and over the opposite shoulder or through a special friction device

rappel noun

Examples of rappel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Video taken at the scene showed helicopters flying low, with troops rappelling onto the roof. —Julie Sharp, CBS News, 4 June 2026

Rescuers were expecting to rappel back into the cave again and resume pumping out water on Tuesday, according Finnish diver Mikko Paasi. —Kocha Olarn, CNN Money, 1 June 2026

The French president also shared a six-second clip, with high-intensity music laid over it, showing armed personnel rappelling onto and walking around the ship. —Reuters, NBC news, 1 June 2026

On the night of the raid, Caceres and Rojas were awakened by the sounds of a helicopter and saw agents rappelling down onto the building. —Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, recall, from Old French rapel, from rapeler to recall, from re- + apeler to appeal, call — more at appeal

First Known Use

1944, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for rappel

• appal
• apple
• chapel
• dapple
• grapple
• pineapple

Kids Definition

rappel

verb

rap·​pel rə-ˈpel 

ra-

rappelled also rappeled; rappelling also rappeling

: to descend (as from a cliff) by sliding down a rope