# repel

/ɹɪˈpɛɫ/ (US) · /ɹɪpˈɛl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/repel
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. to drive back an attacker

verb · CEFR B2

to fight back against an enemy or attacker and force them to go away.

For teachers: to drive back or ward off an assailant or an advancing military force through physical or tactical resistance.

- The army managed to repel the invaders after a long battle at the border.
- The garrison successfully repelled the initial assault, though the commander knew they lacked the supplies to withstand a prolonged siege.

Usage: This is a transitive verb that always takes a direct object, usually the force being pushed back.

### 2. to keep something out

verb · CEFR B2

to successfully keep something away, like water or insects.

For teachers: to resist or keep out a substance or organism by physical or chemical properties.

- This new jacket is designed to repel water even in heavy rain.
- The chemical coating is engineered to repel common garden pests without harming the plants themselves.

Usage: Often used in technical contexts regarding materials or fabrics.

### 3. to cause dislike

verb · CEFR B2

to make someone feel a strong sense of dislike or disgust.

For teachers: to cause a feeling of strong aversion, distaste, or disgust in another person.

- The violent scenes in the movie repelled many viewers.
- His arrogant attitude and lack of empathy tended to repel potential business partners before negotiations could even begin.

### 4. physics

verb · CEFR B2 · Technical

to push something away using a physical force, like magnets.

For teachers: to exert a force on an object that tends to push it away; the opposite of attract.

- The two positive ends of the magnets repel each other.
- In electrostatics, particles with the same electric charge repel one another with a force proportional to the magnitude of the charges.

### 5. to reject a request

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to refuse to accept a request or a suggestion.

For teachers: to reject or refuse to accept a formal request, demand, or offer.

- The committee repelled his suggestion to change the company logo.
- The board of directors repelled the hostile takeover bid, citing a lack of transparency in the financing.

Teaching tip: This sense is quite formal; in everyday conversation, 'reject' or 'turn down' is much more common.

## Examples

- This spray helps to repel mosquitoes for several hours.
- The north poles of two magnets will repel each other if you try to bring them together.
- The specialized coating on the fabric is designed to repel water and oil, ensuring that the garment remains dry and stain-free even in harsh outdoor conditions.

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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.