Word a Day
repel
What does repel mean?
repel (verb): to drive back (an assailant, advancing force etc.).
Definition: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
How do you pronounce repel?
/ɹɪˈpɛl/ (IPA, American English). The app reads every word aloud.
Where does repel come from?
From Middle English repellen, a borrowing from Old French *repeller, from Latin repellere (“to drive back”), from re- (“back”) + pellere (“to drive”).
Etymology: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Test yourself: do you know “repel”?
Tap an answer to check it. The same questions the app asks.
What does “repel” mean?
to drive back (an assailant, advancing force etc.)
Right! That's what “repel” means.
to examine or investigate something systematically
Not quite: that's what explore means.
to draw in the breath suddenly, as if from a shock
Not quite: that's what gasp means.
to endeavor to gain someone's affection or support
Not quite: that's what woo means.
Learn a word like “repel” every day
Word a Day for iPhone quizzes you on a few new words a day and brings each one back for review at growing intervals. Free, no account, no ads.
Coming soon to the App Store