repeat

1 of 3

verb

re·​peat ri-ˈpēt How to pronounce repeat (audio)
repeated; repeating; repeats

transitive verb

1
a
: to say or state again
b
: to say over from memory : recite
c
: to say after another
2
a
: to make, do, or perform again
repeat an experiment
b
: to make appear again
the curtains repeat the wallpaper pattern
will repeat the program tomorrow
c
: to go through or experience again
had to repeat third grade
3
: to express or present (oneself) again in the same words, terms, or form

intransitive verb

: to say, do, or accomplish something again
especially : to win something (such as a sports championship) another time in succession
repeatability noun
repeatable adjective

repeat

2 of 3

noun

1
a
: something repeated : repetition
b
: a musical passage to be repeated in performance
also : a sign placed before and after such a passage
c
: a usually transcribed repetition of a radio or television program
d
: a duplication of genetic material (such as a sequence of nucleotides) in which the duplicated parts are adjacent to each other along the chromosome
2
: the act of repeating

Illustration of repeat

Illustration of repeat
  • repeat 1b

repeat

3 of 3

adjective

re·​peat ri-ˈpēt How to pronounce repeat (audio)
: of, relating to, or being one that repeats an offense, achievement, or action
a repeat burglar
a repeat customer

Examples of repeat in a Sentence

Verb Will you repeat the question? He kept repeating the same thing over and over. He often has to ask people to repeat themselves because he's a little deaf. Repeat after me: “I promise to do my best…”. You are simply repeating, in slightly different words, what has been said already. My five-year-old can repeat her favorite stories word for word. Noun Most of the customers are repeats. No, I don't want to watch that. It's a repeat.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Whenever a picture is touched, it will be repeated in one of three modes: words, colors and counting, and fun sounds. Laura Lu, Ms, Parents, 6 Mar. 2024 Like every breaking competition, that will test not only his movement and creativity in the heat of a battle but also his memory: originality is rewarded, and contestants are scored down for repeating moves between rounds. George Ramsay, CNN, 5 Mar. 2024 The suit, handled by Stewart Tilghman Fox Bianchi & Cain attorneys Michael Levine and Stephen Cain, repeats many of the charges made by the Florida Department of Health in complaints against Seduction and Sampson. David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2024 Faith Family looking for repeat The Dallas-area is represented well, and No. 1 Faith Family will look to repeat as Class 4A state champions. Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Mar. 2024 Park again repeated the government's call for the doctors to end their walkouts. Hyung-Jin Kim, Quartz, 4 Mar. 2024 Ayub repeated the allegations of vote rigging and demanded a probe into last month’s poll. Munir Ahmed, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2024 Top with second Cake Layer; repeat spreading process with 3/4 cup Vanilla Buttercream. Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 23 Feb. 2024 The Steelers went on to repeat as Super Bowl champions, while the Cowboys waited another 14 years before another title. Jim Reineking, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024
Noun
This final program of the tour was a repeat of the one heard at La Scala, but the music felt (once again) transformed by the space and recharged by the circumstances. Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024 Flare pants, a style Reese Witherspoon has worn on repeat, are also discounted during the flash sale. Nicol Natale, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024 Our third study – a repeat of our second study – was conducted in person. Matthew Robison, Discover Magazine, 2 Mar. 2024 This is valuable in the current environment to drive repeat sales. Trefis Team, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 Despite lagging far behind Trump in the polls, Haley cited surveys showing that more than two-thirds of Americans don't want a repeat of the 2020 contest between Trump and Biden. USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2024 Kansas City attempting to pull off the first Super Bowl repeat since the 2004 New England Patriots. Nate Davis, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2024 With the pressure on celebrities to constantly churn out new looks and create memorable fashion moments, Eilish’s call for more repeat and rewearing last night was refreshing. Christian Allaire, Vogue, 22 Feb. 2024 Her clinic charges $55 for recommendations ($45 for repeat customers). Peter Hecht, Sacramento Bee, 21 Feb. 2024
Adjective
The authors of the report wrote that patients with persistent false-positive results and a history of autoimmune disease with rheumatoid factor may benefit from repeat COVID testing with a different brand of rapid antigen test. Alyssa Hui, Verywell Health, 1 Mar. 2024 This can be achieved by keeping violent offenders incarcerated and preventing bail for repeat violent offenders. Steve Hershey, Baltimore Sun, 22 Jan. 2024 The news comes as the organization warns of the yet unknown dangers of repeat COVID infection, which can occur without symptoms. Erin Prater, Fortune Well, 12 Jan. 2024 On the left, progressives managed to persuade centrist Democrats that Clinton-era tough-on-crime policies, such as lengthy prison terms for drug crimes and mandatory life sentences for repeat violent offenders, had done more harm than good. Neil Gross, The Atlantic, 22 Dec. 2023 Just about everyone in the Kansas City Chiefs locker room has moved past their latest Super Bowl triumph by this point, turning their focus toward the Detroit Lions in Thursday night’s NFL opener and the prospect of becoming the first repeat NFL champions in nearly two decades. Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 7 Sep. 2023 After being accepted to the University of Chicago Law School, Gad found herself before a Hennepin County judge due to mandatory minimum sentencing for repeat drug offenders. Catherine Garcia, The Week, 17 Aug. 2023 Yellen opens talks with China's new economic chief, a fan of state action Battered by repeat economic challenges, governments throughout the developing world find their financial resources exhausted. David J. Lynch, Washington Post, 14 July 2023 Oftentimes, patients are scheduled for a repeat cesarean birth without being counseled on a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) alternative. Asima Ahmad, Fortune, 14 May 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'repeat.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English repeten, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French repeter, from Old French, from Latin repetere to return to, repeat, from re- + petere to go to, seek — more at feather

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1888, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of repeat was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near repeat

Cite this Entry

“Repeat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/repeat. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

repeat

1 of 2 verb
re·​peat ri-ˈpēt How to pronounce repeat (audio)
1
a
: to say or state again
repeated the question
b
: to say from memory : recite
repeat a poem
c
: to say after another
repeat the following words after me
2
: to make, do, or perform again
repeat a mistake
3
: to present (oneself) again in the same words or way
hate repeating myself
repeatable adjective

repeat

2 of 2 noun
1
: the act of repeating
2
: something repeated
3
a
: a musical passage to be repeated in performance
b
: a sign that consists of two dots one above the other and that is placed before and after a musical passage to be repeated
4
: a repetition of a radio or television program

Medical Definition

repeat

noun
re·​peat ri-ˈpēt, ˈrē-ˌ How to pronounce repeat (audio)
: genetic duplication in which the duplicated parts are adjacent to each other along the chromosome

More from Merriam-Webster on repeat

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