repel
gb/ɹɪpˈɛl/ us/ɹɪpˈɛl/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
Verb
formal
C1
action
1
drive back an attack
To stop an attack and make the attacker go back.
Usage pattern:
[someone] repels [an attack/invaders] (from [place])
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with "expel" (force someone to leave a place) or "repulse" (a strong sense of disgust).
Synonyms
fend off (More common in everyday English; emphasizes defense.)
|
drive back (Emphasizes pushing the attacker to retreat.)
|
beat back (Often used for attacks, flames, or crowds; slightly dramatic.)
Antonyms
succumb to (Fail to resist; be overcome by the attack.)
|
yield to (Give way rather than continue resisting.)
Collocations
repel an attack
|repel an invasion
|repel the enemy
|repel invaders
|repel forces
|repel a raid
|successfully repel
|repel an assault
|repel a challenge
|repel advances
Themes
conflict
|military
|security
Examples
- The army repelled the attack before it reached the city.
- Security guards repelled the intruders at the main gate.
- Local forces repelled repeated raids along the border.
Learner examples
- The soldiers repelled the attack.
- They repelled the invaders.
Verb
B2
action
2
cause strong dislike or disgust
To make someone feel disgusted or not interested.
Usage pattern:
[something] repels [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "repel" when they mean "reject" (refuse) or "refuse" (say no).
Synonyms
repulse (Stronger and more literary; often implies disgust.)
|
disgust (Directly names the feeling caused.)
|
put off (More informal; often weaker than "repel".)
Antonyms
attract (Cause interest or liking; the opposite effect.)
|
appeal to (Create a positive response or interest.)
Collocations
repel people
|repel customers
|repel voters
|find something repelling
|a repelling smell
|repel rather than attract
|repel someone instantly
|repel someone completely
|repel potential buyers
|repel interest
Themes
emotions
|social
Examples
- His rude comments repelled many people in the room.
- The smell of rotten food repelled her immediately.
- A hard sell can repel customers instead of persuading them.
Learner examples
- The bad smell repelled me.
- His behavior repels people.
Verb
B2
action
3
keep something away or off
To stop something from coming near or sticking.
Usage pattern:
[material/product] repels [water/insects/dirt]
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse "repel" instead of simpler verbs like "keep off" or "keep away" in casual speech.
Synonyms
ward off (Often used for unwanted things like insects or illness; slightly more idiomatic.)
|
deter (Emphasizes discouraging something from coming near.)
|
resist (Common for materials (e.g., resist water/stains) and implies durability.)
Antonyms
absorb (Take in liquid rather than keeping it off.)
|
attract (Draw something toward itself rather than keeping it away.)
Collocations
repel water
|water-repellent
|repel insects
|repel mosquitoes
|repel stains
|repel dirt
|repel moisture
|repel oil
|repel bugs
|repel pests
Themes
daily_life
|materials
|health
Examples
- This spray repels mosquitoes for up to eight hours.
- The jacket’s fabric repels water, so light rain beads on the surface.
- A good sealant can repel stains and make cleaning easier.
Learner examples
- This lotion repels insects.
- The coat repels water.
Verb
technical
C1
process
4
push apart by a force
To move away from each other because of a force.
Usage pattern:
[two things] repel (each other)
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse "repel" and "attract" when describing magnets or charges; "repel" means push away.
Synonyms
push apart (Plain-language equivalent; less technical.)
|
drive apart (Suggests a stronger separating force.)
Antonyms
attract (Pull toward each other (opposite force effect).)
|
draw together (Move toward each other rather than separating.)
Collocations
repel each other
|like charges repel
|repel strongly
|repel weakly
|electrically repel
|magnetically repel
|repel at close range
|repelling force
|repel a magnet
|repel a charged particle
Themes
science
|physics
Examples
- Like electric charges repel each other.
- If you turn the magnets the same way, they repel and won’t stick together.
- At short distances, the particles repel strongly.
Learner examples
- The two magnets repel each other.
- Like charges repel.
Grammar
Dictionary form
repel
IPA
GB/ɹɪpˈɛl/
US/ɹɪpˈɛl/
Syllables & stress
re - pel (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (pel)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: repel
- 3rd Person Singular: repels
- Present Participle: repelling
- Past: repelled
Expressions
repel an attack
1/ɹɪpˈɛl ən ətˈæk/
fixed phrase
formal
stop an enemy attack
To stop an attack and make the attacker go back.
Examples
- The troops repelled an attack at dawn.
- The system is designed to repel an attack on the network.
- Police repelled an attack on the station.
repel water
1/ɹɪpˈɛl wˈɔtɚ/
fixed phrase
stop water from soaking in
To keep water off something.
Examples
- The coating helps the fabric repel water.
- These hiking boots repel water but still let your feet breathe.
- A good wax will repel water and protect the paint.