repel

verb re·pel \ ri-ˈpel \

|Updated on: 12 Jun 2018

Examples: repel in a Sentence

Editor's Note: When To Use repel

Definition of repel

repelled; repelling

transitive verb

1 a : to drive back : repulse

b : to fight against : resist

2 : turn away, reject

repelled the insinuation

3 a : to drive away : discourage

foul words and frowns must not repel a lover
—William Shakespeare

b : to be incapable of adhering to, mixing with, taking up, or holding

c : to force away or apart or tend to do so by mutual action at a distance

4 : to cause aversion in : disgust

intransitive verb

: to cause aversion

—

repeller

noun

See repel defined for English-language learners

See repel defined for kids

Examples of repel in a Sentence

a fabric that repels water
Their superior forces repelled the invasion.
Two positive electrical charges repel each other.
Magnets can both repel and attract one another.

Recent Examples of repel from the Web

Over the past month the coalition has pushed 80km north (see map), repelling the Houthis, a group of Shia rebels that chased the government out of Sana’a, the capital, in 2015.

— The Economist, "Yemen’s main port could become the next battleground," 7 June 2018
Then the Rayados backline repelled back-to-back-to-back shots at goal in the early minutes of the second half.

— glynn a. hill, Houston Chronicle, "Dynamo defeat NTX Rayados in first U.S. Open Cup match," 6 June 2018
Hardwood bark mulch can crust over in the summer and actually repel water, leaving the soil below parched and unable to absorb future irrigation/rain.

— paul cappiello, The Courier-Journal, "You better step up your watering game so your plants don't starve," 18 May 2018
Even as embassy dedication speakers lauded the move as an expression of peace, Palestinian protesters in Gaza were being repelled with Israeli soldiers’ live fire that killed more than 55 by the end of the day.

— howard lafranchi, The Christian Science Monitor, "Gaza and Jerusalem: Assessing the real costs of 'low-cost' US diplomacy," 15 May 2018
Baby boomers are most repelled by credit card debt while millennials are least tolerant of student loan debt - understandable since many millennials are still dealing with theirs.

— special to cleveland.com, cleveland.com, "How much debt repels daters? - New survey shows average amounts that turn off suitors," 14 May 2018
The container uses an external magnetic field to align the spin of all the neutrons, and magnets lining the walls of the container gently repel the particles, keeping them from hitting the walls.

— john timmer, Ars Technica, "How long can a neutron survive outside an atom?," 14 May 2018
While content is very important in the development of an effective resume, the formatting and aesthetic play a key role in compelling -- or repelling -- readership.

— dear sam, NOLA.com, "How to design a creative resume," 4 May 2018
First responders repelled from the roof of the building in Palmetto Bay to reach them.

— cnn staff, CNN, "Construction workers rescued safely from collapsed scaffolding near Miami," 24 Apr. 2018

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

When To Use repel

Since re- can mean not just "again" but also "back", repel means "drive back". Repel has two common adjective forms; thus, a repellent or repulsive odor may drive us into the other room. Its main noun form is repulsion. Magnets exhibit both attraction and repulsion, and the goal of an armed defense is the repulsion of an enemy; but we generally use repulsion to mean "strong dislike". In recent years, repulse has been increasingly used as a synonym for repel ("That guy repulses me").

Origin and Etymology of repel

Middle English repellen, from Middle French repeller, from Latin repellere, from re- + pellere to drive — more at felt

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

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repel Synonyms

REPEL Defined for English Language Learners

repel

verb

Definition of repel for English Language Learners

: to keep (something) out or away
: to force (an enemy, attacker, etc.) to stop an attack and turn away
physics : to force (something) to move away or apart

REPEL Defined for Kids

repel

verb re·pel \ ri-ˈpel \

Definition of repel for Students

repelled; repelling

1 : to drive back

We tried to repel the enemy.

2 : to push away

Two magnets can repel each other.

3 : to keep out : resist

The cloth is treated to repel water.

4 : ²disgust

The sight repelled everyone.

Word Root of repel

The Latin word pellere, meaning “to cause to move” or “to drive,” gives us the root pel. Words from the Latin pellere have something to do with driving or causing something to move. To propel is to drive forward. To compel is to drive someone to do something. To expel is to drive out. To repel is to drive back or away.