# repetition

/ˌɹɛpəˈtɪʃən/ (US) · /ɹˌɛpətˈɪʃən/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. doing something again

noun · CEFR B1

doing or saying something more than once.

For teachers: the act or an instance of repeating something; the recurrence of an action, sound, or event.

- The teacher used repetition to help the students remember the new vocabulary words.
- The constant repetition of the same melody throughout the symphony creates a sense of unity and familiarity for the listener.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'of' followed by the action being repeated.

### 2. fitness/exercise

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · Technical

one complete movement of a specific exercise, like lifting a weight once.

For teachers: a single execution of a specific exercise motion, typically performed in sets.

- He managed to do ten repetitions of the bench press before he got tired.
- To build muscular endurance, the trainer recommended performing fifteen repetitions with a lighter weight rather than five with a heavy one.

Usage: Commonly shortened to 'rep' in casual gym environments; usually countable.

## Examples

- Learning a language requires a lot of repetition.
- The coach emphasized that the repetition of basic drills is the only way to build muscle memory.
- While the author uses repetition to create a rhythmic quality in the prose, some critics argued that the constant recurrence of the same themes became redundant by the final chapter.

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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.