Definitions, Translations, and Word of the Day
Definition of "repel" []
- To ward off or keep away; drive back: repel insects. (verb-transitive)
- To offer resistance to; fight against: repel an invasion. (verb-transitive)
- To refuse to accept; reject: a company that was trying to repel a hostile takeover. (verb-transitive)
- To turn away from; spurn. (verb-transitive)
- To cause aversion or distaste in: Your rudeness repels everyone. See Synonyms at disgust. See Usage Note at repulse. (verb-transitive)
American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Use "repel" in a sentence
- "Poles of the same name repel each other; poles of unlike name attract each other."
- "Magnetic power generators make electricity in the following way: If you want to generate cheap electricity, you have to understand that opposites attract and likes repel, which is the essence of magnetic power."
- "So while 'repel' may not be the right word, these chinos are water resistant, a brisk shake and all the water fell to the ground."