# reprise

/ɹɪˈpɹaɪz/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/reprise
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

to perform or repeat something again, often in a different way. In music, it means playing a theme or melody that was heard earlier in a piece.

For teachers: to perform or repeat a musical theme or a previous event. In a legal context, it refers to the act of re-opening a case or re-examining evidence.

## Examples

- The band played a reprise of their most popular song.
- The lawyer requested a reprise of the witness's testimony to clarify the timeline of events.
- The composer uses a reprise of the opening motif to signal the return of the protagonist, creating a sense of cyclical structure that reinforces the narrative's themes of inevitability.

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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.