First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
repel
verb re·pel \ri-ˈpel\
: to keep (something) out or away
: to force (an enemy, attacker, etc.) to stop an attack and turn away
physics : to force (something) to move away or apart
re·pelledre·pel·ling
Full Definition of REPEL
transitive verb
3
a : to drive away : discourage <foul words and frowns must not repel a lover — Shakespeare> b : to be incapable of adhering to, mixing with, taking up, or holding c : to force away or apart or tend to do so by mutual action at a distance
4
: to cause aversion in : disgust
intransitive verb
: to cause aversion
— re·pel·ler noun
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Origin of REPEL
Middle English repellen, from Middle French repeller, from Latin repellere, from re- + pellere to drive — more at felt
Related to REPEL
Rhymes with REPEL
band shell, barbell, Becquerel, Blackwell, bluebell, bombshell, bridewell, cadelle, cartel, chandelle, Chanel, clamshell, compel, cormel, cornel, corral, cowbell, cupel, diel, dispel, doorbell, dry cell, dry well, dumbbell, duxelles, ear shell, eggshell, excel, expel, farewell, fat cell, foretell, fuel cell, gazelle, germ cell, Glaspell, gromwell, groundswell, half shell, handbell, hard sell, hard-shell, harebell, hotel, impel, indwell, inkwell, Jarrell, jurel, Kandel, lampshell, lapel, Mandel, marcel, maxwell, Maxwell, micelle, misspell, morel, motel, nacelle, nerve cell, Nobel, noel, nouvelle, nutshell, oil well, Orel, Orwell, outsell, pall-mall, Parnell, pastel, pell-mell, pixel, pointelle, Ponselle, presell, propel, quenelle, rakehell, rappel, Ravel, rebel, refel, respell, retell, riel, rondel, Roswell, saurel, scalpel, seashell, sequel, sleigh bell, soft sell, soft-shell, solgel, speedwell, spinel, stairwell, star shell, stem cell, tooth shell, unsell, unwell, upwell, wind-bell
REPELS Defined for Kids
repel
verb re·pel \ri-ˈpel\
re·pelledre·pel·ling
Definition of REPEL for Kids
1
: to drive back <We tried to repel the enemy.>
2
: to push away <Two magnets can repel each other.>
3
: to keep out : resist <The cloth is treated to repel water.>
4
: 2disgust <The sight repelled everyone.>
Word Root of REPEL
The Latin word pellere, meaning “to cause to move” or “to drive,” gives us the root pel. Words from the Latin pellere have something to do with driving or causing something to move. To propel is to drive forward. To compel is to drive someone to do something. To expel is to drive out. To repel is to drive back or away.
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