Word
repress
Phoneticsre·press, stress on the second syllable
/ɹiˈpɹɛs/
Definition
v. to stop yourself from showing a feeling or an emotion. It can also mean to use force to stop people from doing something or saying something.
v. to suppress or inhibit an emotion, desire, or thought; to use force to prevent the expression of political or social dissent. Transitive — requires a direct object.
Examples
“She tried to repress her anger during the meeting.”
“The government used the new law to repress any public discussion about the upcoming election.”
“Psychologists argue that while repressing negative memories might provide short-term relief, it often leads to long-term psychological distress and a lack of emotional clarity.”
Examples
simple
“She tried to repress her anger during the meeting.”
contextual
“The government used the new law to repress any public discussion about the upcoming election.”
complex
“Psychologists argue that while repressing negative memories might provide short-term relief, it often leads to long-term psychological distress and a lack of emotional clarity.”
Real-World Examples
“In the days since losing contact, Akash has cried – as a psychology student, he knows not to repress his emotions – but he has also tried to keep going.” “But in the presence of glucose, and to prioritize it over other carbon sources that require more energy to break down, fungi repress genes that utilize cellobiose.” Etymology
Ultimately from Latin repressus, the perfect passive participle of reprimō (“I repress”).
From re- + press.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/repress