repeal

verb

Save Word

re·peal | \ ri-ˈpēl

repealed; repealing; repeals

Definition of repeal

transitive verb

1 : to rescind or annul by authoritative act especially : to revoke or abrogate by legislative enactment

2 : abandon, renounce

3 obsolete : to summon to return : recall

Other Words from repeal Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about repeal

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of repeal in a Sentence

the company called the furniture store to repeal the order for six new desks in 1933, Congress passed the 21st Amendment which repealed the Prohibition Amendment of 1919, thus making the sale, distribution, and use of alcohol legal once again

Recent Examples on the Web This involved petitioning the courts to repeal the law, lobbying MPs and encouraging international partners to impose economic sanctions, Byarugaba said. — Alice Mccool, CNN, "Activists defiant as Uganda proposes death penalty for gay sex," 12 Oct. 2019 Ex-felons on juries: SB310 by state Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, repeals a law that prohibits anyone convicted of a felony from serving on a jury. — Dustin Gardiner, SFChronicle.com, "Gavin Newsom signs measures giving ‘second chance’ to ex-offenders," 8 Oct. 2019 The report also suggests repealing existing laws that criminalize HIV as part of broader criminal justice reform. — Julie Moreau, NBC News, "Study dispels stereotypes of rural LGBTQ people of color," 26 Sep. 2019 Kaul said his solution to the standstill is to repeal the law. — Molly Beck, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "'Hundreds of millions' at stake if GOP lawmakers and attorney general don't agree soon, Josh Kaul says," 10 Sep. 2019 Missouri’s numbers went the other way when that state repealed its licensing law, with a 25% increase in the homicide rate and a 16% increase in the gun suicide rate. — Michael K. Mcintyre, cleveland.com, "Most Americans want action on guns: What do we know about what works?," 11 Aug. 2019 Earlier this year, Democrats in the New York state legislature also introduced bills, backed by DecrimNY, to decriminalize prostitution and repeal the state loitering law. — Anna North, Vox, "Sex workers have been fighting for decriminalization for generations. Now politicians are starting to listen.," 2 Aug. 2019 If Wilson and Pugliese succeed, then voters will decide whether to repeal a law passed by Democrats during the 2019 legislative session to join Colorado to something called the national popular vote interstate compact. — Anna Staver, The Denver Post, "Campaign to overturn Colorado’s national popular vote law submits record number of signatures," 1 Aug. 2019 But that changed in early 2017, when Trump was trying to secure support in the Senate to repeal Obamacare, and Rubio was a swing vote. — Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, "The Fight for the Latino Vote in Florida," 16 Sep. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'repeal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about repeal

Dictionary Entries near repeal

Statistics for repeal

Last Updated

16 Nov 2019

Time Traveler for repeal

The first known use of repeal was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for repeal

repeal

verb

English Language Learners Definition of repeal

: to officially make (a law) no longer valid

See the full definition for repeal in the English Language Learners Dictionary

repeal

verb

re·peal | \ ri-ˈpēl

repealed; repealing

Kids Definition of repeal

: to do away with especially by legislative action The law was repealed.

repeal

transitive verb

re·peal | \ ri-ˈpēl

Legal Definition of repeal

: to rescind or annul by authoritative act especially : to revoke or abrogate by legislative enactment legislatures repealing statutes in light of a recent Supreme Court decision