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

The crew relied on an expert climbing team to rappel down steep walls, scale rocks, and navigate treacherous terrain. —Brit McCandless Farmer, CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026

In the footage, a firefighter can be seen rappelling down a cliff to reach the woman, while other firefighters secure the rope cables at the top of the cliff. —Yi-Jin Yu, ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026

Finally, climbers must rappel from the tree toward a specific target on the ground. —Calin Van Paris, Outside, 19 Mar. 2026

At one point, his team led an operation at a Chicago apartment complex in which agents rappelled from a helicopter. —The New York Times News Service Syndicate, Twin Cities, 17 Mar. 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