repair
1 Americanverb (used with object)
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to restore to a good or sound condition after decay or damage; mend.
to repair a motor.
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to restore or renew by any process of making good, strengthening, etc..
to repair one's health by resting.
- Synonyms:
- amend, rejuvenate, renew
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to remedy; make good; put right.
to repair damage;
to repair a deficiency.
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to make amends for; compensate.
to repair a wrong done.
- Synonyms:
- redress
noun
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an act, process, or work of repairing.
to order the repair of a building.
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Usually repairs.
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an instance or operation of repairing.
to lay up a boat for repairs.
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a repaired part or an addition made in repairing.
Seventeenth-century repairs in brick are conspicuous in parts of the medieval stonework.
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repairs, (in bookkeeping, accounting, etc.) the part of maintenance expense that has been paid out to keep fixed assets in usable condition, as distinguished from amounts used for renewal or replacement.
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the good condition resulting from continued maintenance and repairing.
to keep in repair.
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condition with respect to soundness and usability.
a house in good repair.
verb (used without object)
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to betake oneself; go, as to a place.
He repaired in haste to Washington.
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to go frequently or customarily.
noun
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a resort or haunt.
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the act of going or going customarily; resort.
to have repair to the country.
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Scot. Obsolete. a meeting, association, or crowd of people.
verb
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to restore (something damaged or broken) to good condition or working order
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to heal (a breach or division) in (something)
to repair a broken marriage
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to make good or make amends for (a mistake, injury, etc)
noun
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the act, task, or process of repairing
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a part that has been repaired
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state or condition
in good repair
verb
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(usually foll by to) to go (to a place)
to repair to the country
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(usually foll by to) to have recourse (to) for help, etc
to repair to one's lawyer
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archaic (usually foll by from) to come back; return
noun
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the act of going or returning
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a haunt or resort
Related Words
See renew.
Other Word Forms
- nonrepairable adjective
- repairability noun
- repairable adjective
- repairableness noun
- repairer noun
Etymology
Origin of repair1
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English reparen, repairen, from Middle French reparer, from Latin reparāre, equivalent to re- re- + parāre to prepare; pare
Origin of repair2
First recorded 1300–50; Middle English repairen, repeiren, from Old French repairier, repeirier, “to return,” from Late Latin repatriāre “to return to one's homeland”; repatriate
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.
California built its tradition of open government — including for citizen boards that set the rules for such functions as automotive repair and security guard licensing — precisely to keep well-funded corporate interests in check.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026
The novelty of the device’s design also prompted Samsung to offer any buyer a one-time 50% discount on display repair costs.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026
"Sleep drives growth hormone release, and growth hormone feeds back to regulate wakefulness, and this balance is essential for growth, repair and metabolic health."
From Science Daily • Mar. 30, 2026
Scott believes that the body itself can direct the stem cells, regardless of the laser, and claims that they regenerate and repair parts of his body affected by age.
From Slate • Mar. 30, 2026
Amid the all-night festivities, nineteen young Vietnamese men gathered at a car repair shop.
From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin
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.
