repair
rih-PEH-uh
Repair (verb) means to fix something that is broken or damaged. Example: “The mechanic repaired the brakes in under an hour.”
verb
1
To fix something that is broken or damaged.
"The mechanic repaired the brakes in under an hour."
"It took months to repair the damage from the flood."
"Dad managed to repair the leaking tap with a new washer."
noun
1
The act, or result, of fixing something.
"The bridge is currently closed for repair."
"The repair of the roof cost us a whole weekend."
"This watch is beyond repair, so I am buying a new one."
2
The general condition of something in terms of how well-maintained it is.
"The old cottage was in poor repair when they bought it."
"The village hall is in good repair thanks to the volunteers."
"Their car was in such bad repair that it barely started."
How to use repair
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo mend something broken, or the state of something in terms of whether it needs mending.
Common pairings
repair shop
in good repair
beyond repair
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Word forms
- Plural
- repairs
- Third person singular
- repairs
- Past tense
- repaired
- Archaic forms
- repairest, repairedst, repaireth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The mechanic _____ the brakes in under an hour.
Etymology
From Middle French reparer, from Latin reparare, "to make ready again," from re- plus parare, "to prepare."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for repair
See all rhymes for repair →Frequently asked questions
What does “repair” mean?
The word “repair” means to fix something that is broken or damaged. In plain terms, to mend something broken, or the state of something in terms of whether it needs mending.
How do you pronounce “repair”?
“Repair” is pronounced rih-PEH-uh (/ɹɪˈpɛɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “repair” in a sentence?
Here is “repair” used in a sentence: “The mechanic repaired the brakes in under an hour.”
What is another word for “repair”?
Words with a similar meaning to “repair” include amend, correct, fix, fix up, furbish and retrieve.
What is the opposite of “repair”?
The opposite of “repair” — its antonyms — are aggravate, break, hurt, damage and make matters worse.
What part of speech is “repair”?
Depending on how it is used, “repair” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “repair” come from?
The word “repair” comes from Latin. From Middle French reparer, from Latin reparare, "to make ready again," from re- plus parare, "to prepare.".
Is “repair” a common word?
“Repair” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between repair and fix?
Repair and fix mean much the same thing: to restore something broken to working order. Fix is more casual and covers a wider range, including quick or temporary solutions. Repair is slightly more formal and often implies more thorough or skilled work. You might quickly fix a glitch, but you repair a damaged engine.
What is the difference between repair and replace?
To repair is to mend something so the original item works again. To replace is to remove the broken item entirely and put a new one in its place. Repair keeps what you have; replace swaps it out. People often weigh the two by cost, deciding whether fixing something is worthwhile or a fresh one is cheaper.
What is an example of repair?
Repairing covers any act of mending. Examples include patching a punctured tyre, sewing a torn shirt, fixing a leaking pipe, restoring a cracked phone screen, or servicing a car so it runs properly again. In each case something damaged is returned to working condition rather than thrown away or left broken.
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