Illustration of repeat
- repeat 1b
repeated; repeating; repeats
1
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
: to say, do, or accomplish something again
especially
: to win something (such as a sports championship) another time in succession
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
: of, relating to, or being one that repeats an offense, achievement, or action
a repeat burglar
a repeat customer
Synonyms
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
Kai McNamee, NPR, 11 Apr. 2024
Cicadas repeat this movement on either side 300 to 400 times a second to create their unique sound.
—The Courier-Journal, 10 Apr. 2024
For a taste, nap, rest, and repeat experience, Lancemore Lindenderry Red Hill is an excellent choice.
—Mitti Hicks, Essence, 10 Apr. 2024
Coachella said on social media Tuesday that the popular indie-rock band would play the festival’s first weekend, which is scheduled to run Friday through Sunday at Indio’s Empire Polo Club before repeating April 19-21.
—Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2024
Since then, the phrase has caught on, repeated by President Joe Biden, and printed on t-shirts for sale.
—Jacob Fenston, NPR, 30 Mar. 2024
This process had to be repeated 17 times during the flight.
—Richard Selcer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Mar. 2024
All comedians have tics and crutches, even the very good ones who aim to generate moments that feel spontaneous and true in lieu of repeating an act that’s grown stale.
—Lili Loofbourow, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
Her reflection is a warning not to repeat history now that Beyonce has ascended to the top of those same charts.
—Kimberly Bryant, Essence, 29 Mar. 2024
Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Jessica Christian/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images Many sportfishing guides say more than 80% of their yearly business dried up after last year's closure, leading to widespread fears of a repeat for this year.
—Chris Spinder, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2024
Fans of indie, new wave and dream pop may want to play the film’s soundtrack on repeat, too.
—Danielle Directo-Meston, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Apr. 2024
The song was a great encapsulation of country music, made for brilliant line dancing videos and has been on repeat for months.
—Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 9 Apr. 2024
Classical purists might be surprised to learn that 21st century artists like Charlie Pugh, Jason Derulo and others also stay on repeat.
—Amy Carleton, Charlotte Observer, 4 Apr. 2024
Salma Hayek has had Cowboy Carter on repeat just like the rest of the Bey Hive!
—Sadie Bell, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024
The risk, for other internet cables, is a repeat of the Rubymar.
—Matt Burgess, WIRED, 1 Apr. 2024
Place squeezed potato mixture in a large clean bowl; repeat procedure with remaining potato mixture.
—Julia Levy, Southern Living, 28 Mar. 2024
Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024
That’s because Hardman’s counterpart at CVS, Ben Dugan, had connected a group of repeat shoplifters at the chain to the pawnshop.
—Jeannette Neumann, Fortune, 20 Mar. 2024
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
Verb
Until the trend repeats, and what's old feels new again.
—Kai McNamee, NPR, 11 Apr. 2024
Cicadas repeat this movement on either side 300 to 400 times a second to create their unique sound.
—The Courier-Journal, 10 Apr. 2024
For a taste, nap, rest, and repeat experience, Lancemore Lindenderry Red Hill is an excellent choice.
—Mitti Hicks, Essence, 10 Apr. 2024
Coachella said on social media Tuesday that the popular indie-rock band would play the festival’s first weekend, which is scheduled to run Friday through Sunday at Indio’s Empire Polo Club before repeating April 19-21.
—Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2024
Since then, the phrase has caught on, repeated by President Joe Biden, and printed on t-shirts for sale.
—Jacob Fenston, NPR, 30 Mar. 2024
This process had to be repeated 17 times during the flight.
—Richard Selcer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Mar. 2024
All comedians have tics and crutches, even the very good ones who aim to generate moments that feel spontaneous and true in lieu of repeating an act that’s grown stale.
—Lili Loofbourow, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
Her reflection is a warning not to repeat history now that Beyonce has ascended to the top of those same charts.
—Kimberly Bryant, Essence, 29 Mar. 2024
Noun
The Toy Story movies were played on repeat in the Marks household, to the point that multiple DVDs broke and were replaced.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Jessica Christian/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images Many sportfishing guides say more than 80% of their yearly business dried up after last year's closure, leading to widespread fears of a repeat for this year.
—Chris Spinder, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2024
Fans of indie, new wave and dream pop may want to play the film’s soundtrack on repeat, too.
—Danielle Directo-Meston, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Apr. 2024
The song was a great encapsulation of country music, made for brilliant line dancing videos and has been on repeat for months.
—Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 9 Apr. 2024
Classical purists might be surprised to learn that 21st century artists like Charlie Pugh, Jason Derulo and others also stay on repeat.
—Amy Carleton, Charlotte Observer, 4 Apr. 2024
Salma Hayek has had Cowboy Carter on repeat just like the rest of the Bey Hive!
—Sadie Bell, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024
The risk, for other internet cables, is a repeat of the Rubymar.
—Matt Burgess, WIRED, 1 Apr. 2024
Place squeezed potato mixture in a large clean bowl; repeat procedure with remaining potato mixture.
—Julia Levy, Southern Living, 28 Mar. 2024
Adjective
In a bid to impose heavier penalties on repeat criminal offenders, top Southern California law enforcement officials announced a new initiative Wednesday to target and try more suspects under federal guidelines.
—Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024
That’s because Hardman’s counterpart at CVS, Ben Dugan, had connected a group of repeat shoplifters at the chain to the pawnshop.
—Jeannette Neumann, Fortune, 20 Mar. 2024
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
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
Phrases Containing repeat
Dictionary Entries Near repeat
Cite this Entry
“Repeat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/repeat. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
repeat
1 of 2 verb
re·peat
ri-ˈpēt 
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
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
: genetic duplication in which the duplicated parts are adjacent to each other along the chromosome
More from Merriam-Webster on repeat
Nglish: Translation of repeat for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of repeat for Arabic Speakers
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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