repent

UK: /rɪˈpɛnt/

US: /rɪˈpɛnt/

US: (v. ri pent′; rē′pənt, ri pent′ adj.)

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

re•pent¹ /rɪˈpɛnt/   v. 

1. to feel regretful or sorry for (something one has done): [~ + of + object]
   to repent of an act.
   [~ + object]
   He repented his angry words.

re•pent•ance /rɪˈpɛntəns/  n. 

[uncountable] repentance for one's sins.

re•pent•ant, adj. See -pen-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

re•pent¹  (ri pent′), v.i. 

1. to feel sorry, self-reproachful, or contrite for past conduct;
   regret or be conscience-stricken about a past action, attitude, etc. (often fol. by of ):
   He repented after his thoughtless act.
2. to feel such sorrow for sin or fault as to be disposed to change one's life for the better;
   be penitent.

v.t. 

3. to remember or regard with self-reproach or contrition:
   to repent one's injustice to another.
4. to feel sorry for;
   regret:
   to repent an imprudent act.

• Latin paenitēre to regret, be sorry); see penitent
• Old French repentir, equivalent. to re- re- + pentir to feel sorrow (
• Middle English repenten 1250–1300

re•pent′er, n. 
re•pent′ing•ly, adv. 

re•pent²  (rē′pənt, ri pent′), adj. 

1. creeping.

• Latin rēpent- (stem of rēpēns), present participle of rēpere to crawl, creep; see -ent
• 1660–70

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

repent / rɪˈpɛnt/ verb

1. to feel remorse (for); be contrite (about); show penitence (for)

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French repentir from re- + pentir to be contrite, from Latin paenitēre to repent

reˈpenter noun

repent / ˈriːp^ənt/ adjective

1. lying or creeping along the ground; reptant: repent stems

Etymology: 17th Century: from Latin rēpere to creep

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

rep•tant  (rep′tənt), adj. 

1. repent².

• Latin rēptant- (stem of rēptāns), present participle of rēptāre to creep, equivalent. to rēpt- (frequentative stem of rēpere to creep) + -ant- -ant
• 1650–60

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

reptant / ˈrɛptənt/, repent / ˈriːp^ənt/ adjective

1. creeping, crawling, or lying along the ground
   Also: repent

Etymology: 17th Century: from Latin reptāre to creep