repel

UK: /rɪˈpɛl/ US: /rɪˈpɛl/ ,(ri pel′)

Inflections of 'repel' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

repels

v 3rd person singular

repelling

v pres p

repelled

v past

repelled

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

re•pel /rɪˈpɛl/   v. [~ + object] , -pelled, -pel•ling. 

1. to drive or force back (an assailant, invader, etc.):
   The army repelled the last invasion.
2. to fail to mix with:
   Water and oil repel each other.
3. to resist the absorption of:
   This coat repels rain.
4. to cause a feeling of distaste or dislike:
   She was repelled by his bad manners.
5. to push away by a force (opposed to attract ):
   The north pole of one magnet will repel the north pole of another.

See -pel-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

re•pel  (ri pel′), v., -pelled, -pel•ling. 
v.t. 

1. to drive or force back (an assailant, invader, etc.).
2. to thrust back or away.
3. to resist effectively (an attack, onslaught, etc.).
4. to keep off or out;
   fail to mix with:
   Water and oil repel each other.
5. to resist the absorption or passage of (water or other liquid):
   This coat repels rain.
6. to refuse to have to do with;
   resist involvement in:
   to repel temptation.
7. to refuse to accept or admit;
   reject:
   to repel a suggestion.
8. to discourage the advances of (a person):
   He repelled me with his harshness.
9. to cause distaste or aversion in:
   Their untidy appearance repelled us.
10. to push back or away by a force, as one body acting upon another (opposed to attract):
    The north pole of one magnet will repel the north pole of another.

v.i. 

11. to act with a force that drives or keeps away something.
12. to cause distaste or aversion.

• Latin repellere to drive back, equivalent. to re- re- + pellere to drive, push; see repulse
• Middle English repellen 1350–1400

re•pel′lence, re•pel′len•cy, n. 
re•pel′ler, n. 
re•pel′ling•ly, adv. 
re•pel′ling•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. repulse, parry, ward off.
• 3. withstand, oppose, rebuff.
• 7. decline, rebuff.

Antonyms

• 1. attract.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

repel / rɪˈpɛl/ verb ( -pels, -pelling, -pelled)(mainly tr)

1. to force or drive back (something or somebody, esp an attacker)
2. (also intr) to produce a feeling of aversion or distaste in (someone or something); be disgusting (to)
3. to be effective in keeping away, controlling, or resisting: an aerosol spray that repels flies
4. to have no affinity for; fail to mix with or absorb: water and oil repel each other
5. to disdain to accept (something); turn away from or spurn: she repelled his advances

Etymology: 15th Century: from Latin repellere, from re- + pellere to push, drive

reˈpeller noun

USAGE
repulse