Repeat Meaning, Definition, and Synonyms

Repeat is a common word for doing, saying, or happening again. It can refer to speech, actions, events, and, in music or media, to something that comes back a second time. The exact meaning depends on the sense.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Pronunciation

AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).

Accent: General American English

IPA: /rɪ-PEET/

Easy pronunciation: rih-PEET (approximate spelling).

Stress: Stress is on the second syllable.

Verb sense: to say, state, or perform again.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Repeat Meaning

to say or do something again

Part of speech: verb

Definition: to say, state, or perform again

Example: Could you repeat that last sentence?

Synonyms for this meaning:

iterate — Can mean say again, but is more formal and less common in everyday speech.
restate — A natural substitute when you say something again in different words.
reiterate — A strong formal synonym for saying something again.
retell — Works when the thing being repeated is a story or account.
ingeminate — Rare and literary; not common in modern everyday English.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Other Meanings of Repeat

Meaning 2

to do something again

Part of speech: verb

Definition: make or do or perform again

Example: We had to repeat the experiment.

Synonyms for this meaning:

double — Can fit in some contexts, but often means make twice as much rather than simply do again.
duplicate — Works when creating a second copy or version of something.
replicate — A good synonym in technical, scientific, or formal contexts.
reduplicate — Rare and technical; not common in ordinary use.

Meaning 3

to bring back a musical theme

Part of speech: verb

Definition: repeat an earlier theme of a composition

Example: The symphony reprises its opening melody at the end.

Synonyms for this meaning:

recapitulate — Fits music and also formal writing where a theme is restated.
reprise — Common in music and performance for bringing back a theme or role.
reprize — A variant spelling of reprise; much less common.

Meaning 4

to do again, usually because the first attempt was not good enough

Part of speech: verb

Definition: do over

Example: If the answer is wrong, you'll have to do it over.

Synonyms for this meaning:

take over — Not a close everyday synonym in most contexts; it usually means assume control, so it is often misleading.

Meaning 5

to copy someone's words or actions

Part of speech: verb

Definition: to say again or imitate

Example: The child repeated every word his sister said.

Synonyms for this meaning:

echo — Works when repeating words, ideas, or actions in an imitative way.

Meaning 6

something that happens again

Part of speech: noun

Definition: an event that repeats

Example: Yesterday's storm was a repeat of last week's weather.

Synonyms for this meaning:

repetition — A clear noun synonym for something that happens again.

Meaning 7

to happen again

Part of speech: verb

Definition: happen or occur again

Example: The same mistake may recur unless we change the process.

Synonyms for this meaning:

recur — A strong synonym for something happening again, especially events or problems.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Repeat Synonyms

Similar Meaning

restate
reiterate
retell
iterate

do again / make again

duplicate
replicate

music: bring back an earlier theme

reprise
recapitulate

occur again

recur

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Common Mistakes

Using repeat to mean 'copy exactly' in every context; in some contexts, duplicate or replicate is better.
Confusing repeat with recur: repeat is the action or event happening again, while recur is especially for events or problems happening again over time.
Treating reprise as a general everyday synonym; it is mainly used in music, performance, or formal writing.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main meaning of repeat?

The main meaning of repeat is to say, do, or perform something again.

What are the best synonyms for repeat?

Good synonyms include restate, reiterate, retell, duplicate, replicate, reprise, and recur, depending on the sense.

Is repeat a noun or a verb?

Repeat is most often a verb, but it can also be a noun meaning something that happens again.

What is the difference between repeat and recur?

Repeat usually means to do or say something again. Recur is used when something happens again, especially a situation, event, or problem.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.