repent
1 of 2verb
re·pent ri-ˈpent 
repented; repenting; repents
intransitive verb
1
: to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one's life
2
a
: to feel regret or contrition
b
: to change one's mind
transitive verb
1
: to cause to feel regret or contrition
2
: to feel sorrow, regret, or contrition for
repenter noun
repent
2 of 2adjective
re·pent ˈrē-pənt
: creeping, prostrate
repent stems
Synonyms
Verb
- bemoan
- deplore
- lament
- regret
- rue
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb The preacher told us that we would be forgiven for our sins if we repented. criminals who have repented for their crimes The preacher told us that we would be forgiven if we repented our sins.
Recent Examples on the Web
Maureen Lee Lenker, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Sep. 2022 On another recent day, a group of antivaccination and antimask protesters followed him from his home to his car, shouting at him, calling him racist, questioning his Roman Catholic faith, and imploring him to repent. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 26 Mar. 2022 These thoughts and feelings seemed to be spiritual promptings to repent to a bishop. Erin Alberty, The Salt Lake Tribune, 13 Jan. 2022 That language, Hanks said, reinforces the likelihood that victims will mistake their abuse response for a spiritual prompting to repent. Erin Alberty, The Salt Lake Tribune, 10 Jan. 2022 But some assault survivors said church teachings further intensified their focus on their own conduct and possible need to repent — a theme that has carried into BYU’s disciplinary practices. Erin Alberty, The Salt Lake Tribune, 10 Jan. 2022 One problem with legislating in haste, though, is that the authors may be left to repent at leisure. Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2021 His efforts to repent led him into a spiral of extreme scrupulosity. Kaitlyn Bancroft, The Salt Lake Tribune, 28 Sep. 2021 Prophets often speak of the need to repent for past wrongdoing, but Hayhoe doesn’t urge guilt on her listeners. Eliza Griswold, The New Yorker, 16 Sep. 2021 David Briggs, cleveland, 21 Sep. 2021 See More
Verb
While that helped save their careers, Hunt did not repent. Maureen Lee Lenker, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Sep. 2022 On another recent day, a group of antivaccination and antimask protesters followed him from his home to his car, shouting at him, calling him racist, questioning his Roman Catholic faith, and imploring him to repent. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 26 Mar. 2022 These thoughts and feelings seemed to be spiritual promptings to repent to a bishop. Erin Alberty, The Salt Lake Tribune, 13 Jan. 2022 That language, Hanks said, reinforces the likelihood that victims will mistake their abuse response for a spiritual prompting to repent. Erin Alberty, The Salt Lake Tribune, 10 Jan. 2022 But some assault survivors said church teachings further intensified their focus on their own conduct and possible need to repent — a theme that has carried into BYU’s disciplinary practices. Erin Alberty, The Salt Lake Tribune, 10 Jan. 2022 One problem with legislating in haste, though, is that the authors may be left to repent at leisure. Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2021 His efforts to repent led him into a spiral of extreme scrupulosity. Kaitlyn Bancroft, The Salt Lake Tribune, 28 Sep. 2021 Prophets often speak of the need to repent for past wrongdoing, but Hayhoe doesn’t urge guilt on her listeners. Eliza Griswold, The New Yorker, 16 Sep. 2021 Adjective
The bishop could take some comfort in his own sermons, which often touched on the theme of God as a merciful parent who offers forgiveness for individuals who are remorseful and repent of sin. David Briggs, cleveland, 21 Sep. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English, from Anglo-French repentir, from Medieval Latin repoenitēre, from Latin re- + Late Latin poenitēre to feel regret, alteration of Latin paenitēre — more at penitent
Adjective
Latin repent-, repens, present participle of repere to creep — more at reptile
First Known Use
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Adjective
1669, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
repent
verb
re·pent ri-ˈpent
repented; repenting
: to acknowledge regret for having done something wrong
"Repent. Say that you are sorry …" Kate DiCamillo, The Tale of Despereaux
Kate DiCamillo, The Tale of Despereauxrepenting
verb
as in regretting
to feel sorry or dissatisfied about after hearing what a great time you guys had at the party, I am repenting my decision to stay home Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- regretting
- ruing
- lamenting
- bewailing
- deploring
- bemoaning
- mourning
- grieving (for)
- sorrowing (for)
- aching (for)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- enjoying
- relishing
- savoring
- savouring
- delighting (in)
- reveling (in)
- revelling (in)