repeat
repeat — verb
1. To say, write, or state something once more after having already communicated it
To say, write, or state something once more after having already communicated it — for example, repeating a phone number so the other person can write it down.
Saira asked the teacher to repeat the instructions more slowly.
repeat + noun phrase
The librarian repeated the book's title twice so I could write it down.
Dario repeated that the meeting would start at three o'clock sharp.
Could you repeat your question? I did not quite catch it.
Otis repeated the address to himself until he had memorised it.
- withhold
to keep information from being said at all
文法句型
repeat + noun phrase
repeat + that-clause
用法筆記
In informal speech, 'that' can be omitted after 'repeat' when introducing a clause: 'He repeated the exam was on Friday.'
常見錯誤
2. To do, perform, or carry out something a second time, or for an event to happen
To do, perform, or carry out something a second time, or for an event to happen again in a similar way — for example, a scientist repeating an experiment or a dance class repeating a move.
Vinícius repeated the experiment three times to confirm the results.
repeat + noun phrase in a scientific context
The team repeated their winning strategy in the second match.
History seems to repeat itself every few generations.
Renata repeated the dance move until she got it right.
The festival repeats annually in the main square.
- stop
to end an action rather than doing it a second time
文法句型
repeat + noun phrase
subject + repeat (intransitive)
repeat + reflexive pronoun (itself)
用法筆記
The reflexive pattern 'repeat itself' is common with abstract subjects such as 'history,' 'a pattern,' or 'a cycle.'
常見錯誤
3. To perform a musical passage for a second time — for instance, when a pianist re
To perform a musical passage for a second time — for instance, when a pianist returns to the opening theme to give the composition a satisfying ending.
The conductor asked the violins to repeat the final phrase.
repeat + musical object
Tunde practised the chorus by repeating it until his fingers remembered the notes.
The pianist repeated the opening theme to give the piece a sense of closure.
In sheet music, a double bar with two dots means repeat that section.
- play again
less formal; describes the action without the musical term
- reprise
formal; used for repeating a theme or section in a composition
文法句型
repeat + musical noun phrase
用法筆記
In written music, repeats are indicated by repeat signs (a double bar line with two dots) rather than the written word, though 'D.C. al Fine' and 'D.S. al Coda' also instruct repeats.
4. To utter identical words or statements repeatedly, often without being aware of
To utter identical words or statements repeatedly, often without being aware of it, because of memory lapses, anxiety, or advancing years — for instance, an older family member recounting the same anecdote several times during a single afternoon.
Aunt Saira tends to repeat herself when she gets nervous.
repeat + reflexive pronoun (herself) for habitual behaviour
The elderly professor sometimes repeated himself during lectures, but the students listened politely.
I try to write down my ideas so I do not repeat myself in meetings.
Quinn noticed he was repeating himself and stopped mid-sentence with a laugh.
- say the same thing twice
more literal and less idiomatic
文法句型
repeat + reflexive pronoun (myself/yourself/himself/etc.)
用法筆記
This is a fixed reflexive expression — 'oneself' changes to match the subject (myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves). The pattern cannot be used without the reflexive pronoun.
常見錯誤
repeat — noun
1. An occurrence where something that happened before takes place once more, typica
An occurrence where something that happened before takes place once more, typically in a similar fashion — for example, trying to prevent the same problems from happening again.
Doctors want to avoid a repeat of last year's flu outbreak.
a repeat of + noun phrase (undesirable event)
The manager promised there would be no repeat of the shipping delays.
Astrid hoped for a repeat of her success in the previous competition.
This storm is a repeat of the one we had last March.
- recurrence
more formal; used especially for medical or scientific contexts
- rerun
informal; used when an event feels like a predictable repetition
- first occurrence
the initial instance of an event
文法句型
a repeat of + noun phrase
no repeat of + noun phrase
用法筆記
This sense is most often used in phrases like 'a repeat of' followed by a noun phrase. It commonly appears in negative constructions: 'no repeat of,' 'avoid a repeat of.'
常見錯誤
2. A TV show or radio episode that airs for a second time, typically scheduled late
A TV show or radio episode that airs for a second time, typically scheduled later in the evening or on another date — for instance, a comedy episode shown during the late-night slot.
The late-night schedule is full of repeats of old comedies.
collocation: repeat of [programme type]
Adina recorded the repeat of the documentary so she could watch it later.
I have seen this repeat of the cooking show three times already.
The network aired a repeat of last year's holiday special.
- rerun
more common in American English for TV programmes
- re-broadcast
formal; used for news or important broadcasts
- encore
used for live performances rather than recorded programmes
- original broadcast
the first time a programme is shown
文法句型
a repeat of + programme name
用法筆記
In American English, 'rerun' is more common than 'repeat' for TV programmes. 'Repeat' is preferred in British English.
3. A section of a musical composition that is performed or played more than once, e
A section of a musical composition that is performed or played more than once, either exactly the same or with variation — for example, a chorus that returns after each verse.
The drummer played a short repeat of the bridge before moving to the final chorus.
musical section noun phrase
In jazz, musicians often improvised solos during the repeat of the main theme.
The choir sang the repeat of the refrain with more energy than the first time.
The composer inserted a repeat of the second movement in the symphony's finale.
- repetition
broader term; not limited to music
- reprise
formal; a repeated passage in a musical work
文法句型
a repeat of + musical section
repeat — adjective
1. Doing the same action or achieving the same result for a second or further time
Doing the same action or achieving the same result for a second or further time — used before nouns such as 'offender,' 'customer,' 'winner,' or 'performance' to indicate that the person or thing has done something more than once.
The court sentenced the repeat offender to a longer prison term.
collocation: repeat offender
The café offers a loyalty card for repeat customers.
collocation: repeat customer
Hugo became a repeat winner of the annual photography award.
The store introduced a discount programme for repeat buyers.
- first-time
describing someone doing something for the first time
文法句型
repeat + noun (offender/customer/winner/performance)
用法筆記
This adjective only appears before a noun (attributive position). You cannot say *'the offender is repeat.' The noun 'repeat' in this position combines with a limited set of nouns: 'offender,' 'customer,' 'winner,' 'performance,' 'order,' 'prescription.'