repeat
Americanverb (used with object)
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to say or utter again (something already said).
to repeat a word for emphasis.
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to say or utter in reproducing the words, inflections, etc., of another.
to repeat a sentence after the teacher.
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to reproduce (utterances, sounds, etc.) in the manner of an echo, a phonograph, or the like.
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to tell (something heard) to another or others.
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to do, make, or perform again.
to repeat an action.
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to go through or undergo again.
to repeat an experience.
verb (used without object)
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to do or say something again.
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to cause a slight regurgitation.
The onions I ate are repeating on me.
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to vote illegally by casting more than one vote in the same election.
noun
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the act of repeating.
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something repeated; repetition.
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a duplicate or reproduction of something.
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a decorative pattern repeated, usually by printing, on a textile or the like.
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Music.
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a passage to be repeated.
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a sign, as a vertical arrangement of dots, calling for the repetition of a passage.
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a radio or television program that has been broadcast at least once before.
verb
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(when tr, may take a clause as object) to say or write (something) again, either once or several times; restate or reiterate
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to do or experience (something) again once or several times
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(intr) to occur more than once
the last figure repeats
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(tr; may take a clause as object) to reproduce (the words, sounds, etc) uttered by someone else; echo
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(tr) to utter (a poem, speech, etc) from memory; recite
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(intr)
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(of food) to be tasted again after ingestion as the result of belching or slight regurgitation
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to belch
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(tr; may take a clause as object) to tell to another person (the words, esp secrets, imparted to one by someone else)
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(intr) (of a clock) to strike the hour or quarter-hour just past, when a spring is pressed
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(intr) to vote (illegally) more than once in a single election
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to say or do the same thing more than once, esp so as to be tedious
noun
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the act or an instance of repeating
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( as modifier )
a repeat performance
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a word, action, etc, that is repeated
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an order made out for goods, provisions, etc, that duplicates a previous order
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a duplicate copy of something; reproduction
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radio television a further broadcast of a programme, film, etc, which has been broadcast before
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music a passage that is an exact restatement of the passage preceding it
Usage
Since again is part of the meaning of repeat , one should not say something is repeated again
Related Words
Repeat, recapitulate, reiterate refer to saying a thing more than once. To repeat is to do or say something over again: to repeat a question, an order. To recapitulate is to restate in brief form, to summarize, often by repeating the principal points in a discourse: to recapitulate an argument. To reiterate is to do or say something over and over again, to repeat insistently: to reiterate a refusal, a demand.
Other Word Forms
- nonrepeat noun
- repeatability noun
- repeatable adjective
- self-repeating adjective
- unrepeatable adjective
Etymology
Origin of repeat
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English repeten (verb), from Middle French repeter, from Latin repetere “to attack again, demand return of,” equivalent to re- re- + petere “to reach towards, seek” ( cf. perpetual, petulant)
Explanation
You can use the word repeat for things that happen again. You can use the word repeat for things that happen again. When you repeat, you do or say the same thing more than once. Sometimes you need to repeat what you said because someone didn’t hear it or understand it the first time, and other times you might repeat a statement for emphasis — you say it twice to really get your point across; in some cases you'll get "I heard you the first time" in return. Doing something over is another way to repeat, as when you repeat a test or draw a smiley face all over your notebooks in a repeat pattern.
Vocabulary lists containing repeat
Do-Over: Words For Groundhog Day
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Foundational Reading
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Units 6–7
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It is always easy to look back after world events hammer stocks and repeat the lesson that most investors are better off not reacting during a time of crisis.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 21, 2026
He made it clear to his successor that he did not want Apple to repeat the history of another iconic American company known for producing magic.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026
The police were boosting collaboration with fuel retailers and cost recovery agencies to help identify patterns and target repeat offenders, Supt Maslen added.
From BBC • Apr. 20, 2026
We don’t want to repeat things, but let’s do explore a half-Korean character who is about to have a child suddenly get this pull toward Korea.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026
Could they repeat a few pithy phrases in Latin?
From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.