repress

1 of 2

verb

re·​press ri-ˈpres 

repressed; repressing; represses

transitive verb

1

a

: to check by or as if by pressure : curb

injustice was repressed

b

: to put down by force : subdue

repress a disturbance

2

a

: to hold in by self-control

repressed a laugh

b

: to prevent the natural or normal expression, activity, or development of

repressed her anger

3

: to exclude from consciousness

repressed the memory of abuse

4

: to inactivate (a gene or formation of a gene product) by allosteric combination at a DNA binding site

intransitive verb

: to take repressive action

repressibility

ri-ˌpre-sə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

repressible

ri-ˈpre-sə-bəl 

adjective

repressive

ri-ˈpre-siv 

adjective

repressively adverb

repressiveness noun

repressiveness

2 of 2

noun

re·​pres·​sive·​ness

plural -es

: the quality or state of being repressive

a repressiveness natural to the man

—G. D. Brown

Synonyms of repress

Verb

• suppress
• quell
• subdue

Examples of repress in a Sentence

Verb

Religious groups were severely repressed.

quickly repressed the rebellion in the provincial city and restored order

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

In Montecito, closet-envy is one of many examples of Deborah’s competitive nature, which the character is unable to repress while trying to scam fellow comedian, Cherry Kilpatrick. —Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026

Either way, something is repressed in Eleanor that is not with Theodora. —Literary Hub, 26 May 2026

Typically, bees stop laying eggs during the winter, or at least slow down activity, which represses mite activity. —Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2026

Don’t repress your thoughts, but don’t react just to prove a point either. —Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 5 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French represser, from Latin repressus, past participle of reprimere to check, from re- + premere to press — more at press

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for repress

• abbess
• abscess
• access
• address
• assess
• caress
• confess
• depress
• digress
• distress
• egress
• excess

Kids Definition

repress

verb

re·​press ri-ˈpres 

1

a

: to check by or as if by pressure

injustice was repressed

b

: to put down by force : subdue

2

a

: to hold in by self-control

repressed a laugh

b

: to prevent the natural or normal expression, activity, or development of

repress one's anger

3

: to shut out of consciousness

repressed a painful past

repressible

-ˈpres-ə-bəl 

adjective

repressive

-ˈpres-iv 

adjective

Medical Definition

repress

transitive verb

re·​press ri-ˈpres 

1

: to exclude from consciousness

repress conflicts

2

: to inactivate (a gene or formation of a gene product) by allosteric combination at a DNA binding site