Meanings
repent1
present singular third person repents · participle present repenting · participle past repented · past repented
- intransitiveTo feel pain, sorrow, or regret for what one has done or omitted to do; the cause for repenting may be indicated with "of".
Marry in haste, repent at leisure.
3 more examples
Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Luke 17:1–4And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Jonah 3:10If Aljunied decides to go that way (to vote for Workers' Party), well Aljunied has five years to live and repent.
2011 April 30, Lee Kuan Yew, as quoted, “Aljunied voters will regret choosing WP: MM Leel”, in Yahoo News, archived from the original on 30 Apr 2025 - intransitivelifestyleTo be sorry for sin as morally evil, and to seek forgiveness; to cease to practice sin and to love.
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Luke 13:34 more examples
... Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Mark 1:14–15Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Acts 2:38–40Mad Prophet: Repent! Repent and restore your souls to glory before it is too late! This great station has fallen, and all within shall fall with it!
2012, BioWare, Mass Effect 3: Omega (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, PC, scene: Gozu DistrictThe Court shall, after sentencing an offender for any offence under section 221, 222, 223 or 224 and before execution of the punishment, order the offender to repent.
2013, Hassanal Bolkiah, “Syariah Penal Code Order, 2013”, in Brunei Darussalem Government Gazette, page 1759 - transitiveTo feel pain on account of; to remember with sorrow.
If Aljunied decides to go that way (to vote for the Workers' Party), well Aljunied has five years to live and repent.
2011 April 30, Lee Kuan Yew, as quoted, “Aljunied voters will regret choosing WP: MM Lee”, in Yahoo News, archived from the original on 30 Apr 2025 - archaictransitiveTo cause to have sorrow or regret.
And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 6:61 more example
at that time she wolde nat, she seyde, for she was syke and myght nat ryde. "That me repentith," seyde the kynge[…].
1470–1485 (date produced), Thomas Malory, “(please specify the chapter)”, in [Le Morte Darthur], book VII, [London: […] by William Caxton], published 31 July 1485, →OCLC; republished as H[einrich] Oskar Sommer, editor, Le Morte Darthur […], London: David Nutt, […], 1889, →OCLC - obsoletereflexiveTo cause (oneself) to feel pain or regret.
But if that I knewe what his name hight, For clatering of me I would him ſone quight; For his falſe lying, of that I ſpake never, I could make him ſhortly repent him forever: […]
c. 1515–1516, published 1568, John Skelton, Againſt venemous tongues enpoyſoned with ſclaunder and falſe detractions &c. - archaicintransitiveTo change one's mind.
The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms 110:4
repent2
Synonyms & antonyms
adjectiveCreeping along the ground.
More synonyms by meaning
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
repent · verb
- Classical Latinpaenitēre
- Late Latinpaenitīre
- Vulgar Latin*repaenitīre
- Old Frenchrepentir
- Middle Englishrepenten
- Englishrepent
From Middle English repenten, from Old French repentir, from Vulgar Latin *repaenitīre, from Late Latin paenitīre, from Classical Latin paenitēre. Compare Modern French repentir.
More words from Middle English, Old French, Vulgar Latin
Full word history & related roots →repent · adjective
- Latinrēpēns
- Englishrepent
From Latin rēpēns, present participle of rēpō (“to creep”).
More words from Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Ancient Greek μετανοέω, μετᾰνοέω
- μετανοέω (metanoéō)to feel sorrow or regret for what one has done or omitted to do
- μετᾰνοέω (metănoéō)theology: to be sorry for sin as morally evil, and to seek forgiveness
Arabic تَابَ, تَابَ
- تَابَ (tāba)to feel sorrow or regret for what one has done or omitted to do
- تَابَ (tāba)theology: to be sorry for sin as morally evil, and to seek forgiveness
Bulgarian съжалявам, разкайвам се
- съжалявам (săžaljavam)to feel sorrow or regret for what one has done or omitted to do
- разкайвам се (razkajvam se)theology: to be sorry for sin as morally evil, and to seek forgiveness
- съжалявам (săžaljavam)to feel sorry for, to regret
Catalan penedir-se
- penedir-seto feel sorrow or regret for what one has done or omitted to do
Chinese Cantonese 懺悔 /忏悔
- 懺悔 /忏悔 (caam³ fui³)theology: to be sorry for sin as morally evil, and to seek forgiveness
Chinese Mandarin 悔悟, 悔改
- 悔悟 (huǐwù)to feel sorrow or regret for what one has done or omitted to do
- 悔改 (huǐgǎi)to feel sorrow or regret for what one has done or omitted to do
- 後悔 /后悔 (hòuhuǐ)to feel sorrow or regret for what one has done or omitted to do
- 忏悔 (chànhuǐ)theology: to be sorry for sin as morally evil, and to seek forgiveness
- 悔改 (huǐgǎi)theology: to be sorry for sin as morally evil, and to seek forgiveness
Czech kát se
- kát seto feel sorrow or regret for what one has done or omitted to do
Dutch berouwen, berouw hebben
- berouwento feel sorrow or regret for what one has done or omitted to do
- berouw hebbento feel sorrow or regret for what one has done or omitted to do
- berouwentheology: to be sorry for sin as morally evil, and to seek forgiveness
- berouw tonentheology: to be sorry for sin as morally evil, and to seek forgiveness
- betreurento feel pain on account of, to remember with sorrow
- berouw hebbento feel pain on account of, to remember with sorrow
- betreurento feel sorry for, to regret
Esperanto penti
- pentito feel sorrow or regret for what one has done or omitted to do
Finnish katua, kääntyä
- katuato feel sorrow or regret for what one has done or omitted to do
- kääntyätheology: to be sorry for sin as morally evil, and to seek forgiveness
- tehdä parannustheology: to be sorry for sin as morally evil, and to seek forgiveness
- surrato feel pain on account of, to remember with sorrow
- kaduttaato cause to have sorrow or regret
- surettaato cause to have sorrow or regret
- katuato feel sorry for, to regret
French se repentir, se repentir
- se repentirto feel sorrow or regret for what one has done or omitted to do
- se repentirtheology: to be sorry for sin as morally evil, and to seek forgiveness
- repentirto feel pain on account of, to remember with sorrow
German bereuen, bedauern
- bereuento feel pain on account of, to remember with sorrow
- bedauernto feel pain on account of, to remember with sorrow
Greek μετανοώ, μετανιώνω
- μετανοώ (metanoó)to feel sorrow or regret for what one has done or omitted to do
- μετανιώνω (metanióno)to feel sorrow or regret for what one has done or omitted to do
Hindi पछताना, मन फिराना
- पछताना (pachtānā)to feel sorrow or regret for what one has done or omitted to do
- मन फिराना (man phirānā)theology: to be sorry for sin as morally evil, and to seek forgiveness
Italian pentirsi
- pentirsito feel sorrow or regret for what one has done or omitted to do
Japanese 悔い改める
- 悔い改める (kuiaratameru)to feel sorrow or regret for what one has done or omitted to do
Korean 뉘우치다
- 뉘우치다 (nwiuchida)to feel sorrow or regret for what one has done or omitted to do
Malay insaf
- insafto feel sorrow or regret for what one has done or omitted to do
Māori rīpenetā
- rīpenetāto feel sorrow or regret for what one has done or omitted to do
Norwegian Bokmål angre
- angreto feel sorrow or regret for what one has done or omitted to do
Portuguese arrepender-se, arrepender
- arrepender-seto feel sorrow or regret for what one has done or omitted to do
- arrependerto feel pain on account of, to remember with sorrow
Russian сожале́ть, сокруша́ться
- сожале́ть (sožalétʹ)to feel sorrow or regret for what one has done or omitted to do
- сокруша́ться (sokrušátʹsja)to feel sorrow or regret for what one has done or omitted to do
- ка́яться (kájatʹsja)to feel sorrow or regret for what one has done or omitted to do
- пока́яться (pokájatʹsja)to feel sorrow or regret for what one has done or omitted to do
- раска́иваться (raskáivatʹsja)to feel sorrow or regret for what one has done or omitted to do
- раска́яться (raskájatʹsja)to feel sorrow or regret for what one has done or omitted to do
- ка́яться (kájatʹsja)theology: to be sorry for sin as morally evil, and to seek forgiveness
- пока́яться (pokájatʹsja)theology: to be sorry for sin as morally evil, and to seek forgiveness
- раска́иваться (raskáivatʹsja)theology: to be sorry for sin as morally evil, and to seek forgiveness
- раска́яться (raskájatʹsja)theology: to be sorry for sin as morally evil, and to seek forgiveness
- жале́ть (žalétʹ)to feel sorry for, to regret
- сожале́ть (sožalétʹ)to feel sorry for, to regret
Spanish arrepentirse, repentirse
- arrepentirseto feel sorrow or regret for what one has done or omitted to do
- repentirseto feel sorrow or regret for what one has done or omitted to do
- arrepentirto feel pain on account of, to remember with sorrow
Swahili kutubu
- kutubutheology: to be sorry for sin as morally evil, and to seek forgiveness
Swedish ångra
- ångrato feel sorrow or regret for what one has done or omitted to do
Turkish pişman olmak, tövbe etmek
- pişman olmakto feel sorrow or regret for what one has done or omitted to do
- tövbe etmektheology: to be sorry for sin as morally evil, and to seek forgiveness
- pişman olmakto feel pain on account of, to remember with sorrow
- pişman etmekto cause to have sorrow or regret
- pişman olmakto feel sorry for, to regret
Ukrainian шкодува́ти, ка́ятися
- шкодува́ти (škoduváty)to feel sorrow or regret for what one has done or omitted to do
- ка́ятися (kájatysja)to feel sorrow or regret for what one has done or omitted to do
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with repent
Anagrams
Cite this entry
repent. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/repent
“repent.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/repent. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “repent,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/repent.
Source: repent on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.