reprise

1 of 2

noun

re·​prise ri-ˈprēz 

 sense 3 is also  ri-ˈprīz

1

[French, from Middle French]

a

: a musical repetition:

(1)

: the repetition of the exposition preceding the development

(2)

: recapitulation sense 3

b

: a repeated performance : repetition

2

: a recurrence, renewal, or resumption of an action

3

: a deduction or charge made yearly out of a manor or estate

—usually used in plural

reprise

2 of 2

verb

re·​prise ri-ˈprīz 

 sense 1 is  ri-ˈprēz

reprised; reprising

transitive verb

1

a

: to repeat the performance of

b

: to repeat the principal points or stages of : recapitulate

2

archaic : take back

especially : to recover by force

3

archaic : compensate

Did you know?

When reprise was first adopted into English in the 15th century, it referred to a deduction or charge made yearly out of a manor or estate (and was usually used in the plural form reprises). It probably won't surprise you, then, to learn that reprise comes from an Anglo-French word meaning "seizure, repossession, or expense." Eventually, reprise came to refer to any action that was repeated or resumed. A later sense, borrowed from modern French, applies to specific types of repetition in musical compositions. That sense was eventually generalized to describe any subsequent and identical performance. It's possible, for example, to have a reprise of a television program or a book.

Synonyms

Noun

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

Verb

• abstract
• boil down
• brief
• digest
• encapsulate
• epitomize
• outline
• recap
• recapitulate
• sum up
• summarize
• synopsize
• wrap up

Examples of reprise in a Sentence

Noun

They ended their performance with a reprise of the opening number.

The team is hoping to avoid a reprise of last year's defeat.

Verb

He will reprise his role in the play.

the prosecutor's closing statement effectively reprised the case against the defendant

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

That offers a reprise for shares, which have slipped more than 6% since 2025 began. —Alex Harring, CNBC, 1 May 2025

Did the reprise of the Manetheren song work for you? —ArsTechnica, 11 Apr. 2025

Verb

Oscar Nuñez, who is reprising his character from The Office in the spinoff, can be seen in the corner looking at Ned and Gbemisola Ikumelo, who will play Adelola, is staring up at Ned skeptically. —Julia Moore, People.com, 13 May 2025

Where to watch: Netflix 'Madea's Destination Wedding' (July 11) Tyler Perry writes, directs and reprises his signature role in the comedy as the elderly and irascible Madea. —Brian Truitt, USA Today, 13 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, seizure, repossession, expense, from feminine past participle of reprendre to take back, from re- + prendre to take, from Latin prehendere

Verb

Middle English, from Middle French repris, past participle of reprendre

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for reprise

• advise
• applies
• apprise
• arise
• assize
• baptize
• belies
• bitwise
• capsize
• chastise
• chordwise
• clockwise

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