repel

C1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ɹɪˈpɛl/ See IPA manual

Freq #21170

Meanings

1

verb
To drive back or force away an attacker or advancing force.

The soldiers managed to repel the enemy assault.
2

verb
To cause strong dislike or disgust in someone.

The smell from the bins repelled everyone who walked past.
3

verb
To push something away by a physical force.

This spray is designed to repel mosquitoes.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to drive back or force away... rebuffdrive back

2 verb · to cause strong dislike or... disgust

3 verb · to push something away by a... repulse

Opposites

attract

Word family

Forms repelledrepellingrepellinglyrepels

Derived forms repellablerepellerrepellinglyrepellingnessunrepelled

Related forms repellencyrepellent repulse repulsion repulsive

Simplified etymology

Repel entered English in the late Middle Ages and goes back to Latin pellere, “to drive,” with the etymological sense “drive back.”

Etymology

From Middle English repellen, a borrowing from Old French *repeller, from Latin repellere (“to drive back”), from re- (“back”) + pellere (“to drive”). Doublet of repeal.

*pel- (beat) Proto-Indo-European repellen Middle English repellere Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# repel

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ɹɪˈpɛl/
**Frequency rank:** 21170

## Meanings
1. To drive back or force away an attacker or advancing force.
2. To cause strong dislike or disgust in someone.
3. To push something away by a physical force.

## Examples
- The soldiers managed to repel the enemy assault.
- The smell from the bins repelled everyone who walked past.
- This spray is designed to repel mosquitoes.

## Antonyms
- attract

## Derived Forms
- repellable
- repeller
- repellingly
- repellingness
- unrepelled

## Related Forms
- repellency
- repellent
- repulse
- repulsion
- repulsive

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *pel- (beat)
- Root: repellen
- Root: repellere

## Etymology
From Middle English repellen, a borrowing from Old French *repeller, from Latin repellere (“to drive back”), from re- (“back”) + pellere (“to drive”). Doublet of repeal.

## AI Etymology
Repel is from Middle English repellen, a borrowing from Old French *repeller, from Latin repellere (“to drive back”), from re- (“back”) + pellere (“to drive”). Doublet of repeal. The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern verbal form is built from the named base and affix. In present-day use, it can mean to drive back or force away an attacker or advancing force, or to cause strong dislike or disgust in someone. Related forms include repellency, repellent, repulse, repulsion, repulsive. Derived formations include repellable, repeller, repellingly, repellingness, unrepelled.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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