Word
repentance
Phoneticsre·pen·tance
US/ɹɪˈpɛntəns/
UK/ɹɪpˈɛntəns/
Definition
n. a feeling of being very sorry for doing something wrong. It usually includes a strong wish to change your behavior and do better in the future.
n. sincere regret or remorse for past actions, typically accompanied by a commitment to personal change or restitution.
Examples
“He showed true repentance for his mistakes.”
“The judge considered the defendant's sincere expression of repentance when deciding on a lighter sentence.”
“In many theological traditions, repentance is viewed not merely as a feeling of guilt, but as a fundamental turning away from previous moral failings toward a more ethical life.”
Examples
simple
“He showed true repentance for his mistakes.”
contextual
“The judge considered the defendant's sincere expression of repentance when deciding on a lighter sentence.”
complex
“In many theological traditions, repentance is viewed not merely as a feeling of guilt, but as a fundamental turning away from previous moral failings toward a more ethical life.”
Usage
Often followed by the preposition 'for' to indicate the specific action being regretted.
Real-World Examples
“Rather than browbeating people into repentance, the Ne’ilah service’s strategy is to boost them up into it, playing upon the biblical idea of the grandeur of humanity.” Etymology
First attested circa 14th century, from Old French repentance. More at repent.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
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englishreference.com/q/repentance