repetition

noun

rep·​e·​ti·​tion ˌre-pə-ˈti-shən 

1

a

: the act or an instance of repeating or being repeated

b

: a motion or exercise (such as a push-up) that is repeated and usually counted

2

: mention, recital

repetitional

ˌre-pə-ˈti-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

Synonyms of repetition

• repeat
• replay

Examples of repetition in a Sentence

Sometimes repetition is necessary to drive a point home.

Children's songs involve lots of repetition.

I quit my job at the factory because I hated the mindless repetition.

Recent Examples on the Web

Fourth-round pick Gracen Halton also took some first-team repetitions at defensive tackle. — Matt Barrows, New York Times, 26 July 2026

After about seven years of covering politics every day, the repetition of the photographs started to wear on her. — Sarah Silbiger, CNN Money, 25 July 2026

Advertisement Parton turned exaggeration into authorship through repetition and scale. — Debbie Millman, Time, 25 July 2026

The repetition of spotting weak arguments in a memo, interpreting ambiguous data, and anticipating stakeholder’s concerns, built judgment. — Marlo Lyons, Harvard Business Review, 24 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English repeticion, from Middle French, from Latin repetition-, repetitio, from repetere to repeat

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing repetition

• incremental repetition

Rhymes for repetition

• abolition
• acquisition
• admonition
• ammunition
• apparition
• apposition
• coalition
• competition
• composition
• definition
• deglutition
• demolition

Kids Definition

repetition

noun

rep·​e·​ti·​tion ˌrep-ə-ˈtish-ən 

1

a

: the act or an instance of repeating

b

: a motion or exercise (as a push-up) that is repeated and usually counted

2

: something repeated