# repeat

/ɹiˈpit/ (US) · /ɹɪpˈiːt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/repeat
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to say or do again

verb · CEFR A2

to say or do something more than once.

For teachers: to say, do, or provide something again; transitive when taking a direct object of the action performed.

- Could you please repeat that last sentence? I didn't hear you clearly.
- The professor had to repeat the instructions several times before the students understood the complex requirements of the assignment.

### 2. to happen again

verb · CEFR B1

to happen more than once.

For teachers: to occur again or recur. Often used intransitively to describe patterns or events.

- History often seems to repeat itself when people forget the past.
- The software error began to repeat every time the user attempted to save a large file to the cloud server.

### 3. a television rerun

noun · CEFR B1 · British English

a television programme that is shown again.

For teachers: a television or radio programme that is broadcast again after its initial presentation.

- I've seen this episode before; it's just a repeat.
- The network filled the summer schedule with repeats of popular sitcoms to save on production costs during the off-season.

### 4. medical refill

noun · CEFR B2 · British English

a second or further supply of a medicine.

For teachers: a further issuance of a medical prescription without needing a new consultation.

- The doctor gave me a repeat for my allergy medication.
- Patients on long-term medication can often request a repeat prescription through the clinic's online portal.

### 5. music notation

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a sign that tells a musician to play a section again.

For teachers: a mark or sign in a musical score directing the performer to play a specific passage again.

- The pianist missed the repeat and went straight to the ending.
- The composer included a repeat at the end of the exposition to ensure the audience became familiar with the primary themes.

### 6. military command

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to fire weapons again at the same target.

For teachers: to fire again using the same settings and ammunition on a previously engaged target.

- The commander ordered the battery to repeat on the same coordinates.
- After observing that the initial strike had missed the bunker, the forward observer requested the artillery to repeat the mission.

## Examples

- The channel is showing a repeat of last night's game.
- The doctor gave her a repeat for her prescription so she wouldn't have to visit the clinic again.
- The team is desperate to avoid a repeat of last year's disastrous performance in the final round of the tournament.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.