repel

verb

re·​pel ri-ˈpel 

repelled; repelling

transitive verb

1

a

: to drive back : repulse

b

: to fight against : resist

2

: turn away, reject

repelled the insinuation

3

a

: to drive away : discourage

foul words and frowns must not repel a lover

—William Shakespeare

b

: to be incapable of adhering to, mixing with, taking up, or holding

c

: to force away or apart or tend to do so by mutual action at a distance

4

: to cause aversion in : disgust

intransitive verb

: to cause aversion

repeller noun

Did you know?

When to Use Repel

Since re- can mean not just "again" but also "back", repel means "drive back". Repel has two common adjective forms; thus, a repellent or repulsive odor may drive us into the other room. Its main noun form is repulsion. Magnets exhibit both attraction and repulsion, and the goal of an armed defense is the repulsion of an enemy; but we generally use repulsion to mean "strong dislike". In recent years, repulse has been increasingly used as a synonym for repel ("That guy repulses me").

Synonyms

• beat off
• fend (off)
• rebut
• repulse
• stave off
• turn away
• turn back

Examples of repel in a Sentence

a fabric that repels water

Their superior forces repelled the invasion.

Two positive electrical charges repel each other.

Magnets can both repel and attract one another.

Recent Examples on the Web

But that is the point: to wear a strange, nostalgic shoe that will simultaneously repel some people and draw others inwards. —Daniel Rodgers, Glamour, 2 Apr. 2024

Second, teak is one of the most weather-resistant woods available thanks to its natural oils that repel water and insects. —Kelsey Chapman, ABC News, 27 Mar. 2024

Military and intelligence officials have said the Republican reluctance to provide new funds to Ukraine to repel Russia may encourage Chinese leaders to think that stoking isolationism in the United States will require little work. —Mark Landler, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2024

Capable of taking photos and videos (including slow motion), this camera features a hydrophobic lens cover that repels water for taking clearer images, no matter the setting. —Alesandra Dubin, Parents, 20 Mar. 2024

Despite the rug being thin, its ability to repel liquid was impressive. —Nor'adila Hepburn, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Mar. 2024

What evidence is there to suggest the Wildcats possess the game and the gumption required to fend off plucky Long Beach State on Thursday in Salt Lake City, then repel Nevada or Dayton in the second round? —Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 19 Mar. 2024

That is a statistic which is very hard to repel, and while there were some extraordinary performances by individuals – Root here, Ollie Pope in Hyderabad, Ben Duckett in Rajkot – there was ultimately too much pressure put on England’s raw and inexperienced spinners to try and get over the line. —Tim Ellis, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024

In both instances, police successfully repelled the attacks, killing several gang members, a police source said. —Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 23 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English repellen, borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French repeller, borrowed from Latin repellere "to push away, drive back, fend off," from re- re- + pellere "to beat against, push, strike, rouse" — more at pulse entry 1

First Known Use

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

Kids Definition

repel

verb

re·​pel ri-ˈpel 

repelled; repelling

1

a

: to drive back

repel the enemy

b

: to fight against : resist

2

: to refuse to accept : reject

repel a suggestion

3

a

: to be incapable of sticking to, mixing with, taking up, or holding

a fabric that repels water

b

: to force away or apart or tend to do so by mutual action at a distance

two like electrical charges repel each other

4

: disgust

a sight that repelled everyone

repeller noun