repeat

1 of 3

verb

re·​peat ri-ˈpēt 

repeated; repeating; repeats

transitive verb

1

a

: to say or state again

b

: to say over from memory : recite

c

: to say after another

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

intransitive verb

: to say, do, or accomplish something again

especially : to win something (such as a sports championship) another time in succession

repeatability

ri-ˌpē-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

repeatable

ri-ˈpē-tə-bəl 

adjective

repeat

2 of 3

noun

re·​peat ri-ˈpēt  ˈrē-ˌpēt 

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

Illustration of repeat

• repeat 1b

repeat

3 of 3

adjective

re·​peat ri-ˈpēt 

: of, relating to, or being one that repeats an offense, achievement, or action

a repeat burglar

a repeat customer

Synonyms

Verb

• chime
• din
• iterate
• rehearse
• reiterate

Noun

• duplication
• iteration
• redo
• reduplication
• reiteration
• renewal
• repetition
• replay
• replication
• reprise

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

Verb

This would be repeated often during the match: in a stoppage for a blow to Federico Valverde to talk to Bellingham, in the breaks for hydration to help other players or with Tchouameni during the process of reviewing a penalty decision. —Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 19 June 2025

Trump has repeated long-standing accusations that the Biden White House relied on an autopen to sign presidential pardons, executive orders and other key documents, claiming that its use cast doubt on their validity. —Arkansas Online, 19 June 2025

Noun

The payoff is fewer late deliveries, more predictable costs, and, most importantly, happier repeat customers. —Kolawole Samuel Adebayo, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025

May marks the end of the official broadcast TV campaign, when the networks once commanded robust audiences with a late run of season/series finales ahead of a long summer of repeats. —Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 20 June 2025

Adjective

Major League Baseball hasn’t had a repeat World Series champion since the New York Yankees pulled off a three-peat more than two decades ago. —Don Yaeger, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025

Boho cowgirl fusion, moto boots, and decorative head scarves were repeat occurrences. —Cierra Black, Essence, 28 Apr. 2025

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

Phrases Containing repeat

• repeat offender
• repeat oneself
• repeat performance
• tandem repeat

Rhymes for repeat

• amit
• athlete
• backseat
• blackfeet
• broadsheet
• browbeat
• buckwheat
• compete
• compleat
• complete
• conceit
• concrete

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

repeatable

-ə-bəl 

adjective

repeat

2 of 2 noun

re·​peat ri-ˈpēt  ˈrē-ˌpēt 

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