English vocabulary · B2
Repent
/rɪˈpent/ · v.
It means to feel deep regret for doing wrong, and to decide to change. When you repent, you are not just sorry — you want to be different.
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Example sentences
- He repented after hurting his friend and asked for forgiveness.
- She repented and never made the same mistake again.
Word origin and roots
from Latin
- re — again (from Latin)
- pen — punishment (from Latin)
Synonyms and nuances
- REGRET — feel sorry for something (General & Everyday)
- ATONE — do something to fix a wrong (Making It Right)
- CONFESS — say what you did wrong (Admitting Openly)
Words with the same root
pen — punishment
- penalty — a punishment for breaking a rule
- penitent — feeling deep regret for doing wrong
- penance — an act done to show you are sorry
Lesson notes
Repent. It means to feel deep regret for doing wrong, and to decide to change. When you repent, you are not just sorry — you want to be different.
Similar words are regret, atone, and confess. Use repent when someone feels deep regret and decides to change their behavior.
He repented after hurting his friend and asked for forgiveness. She repented and never made the same mistake again.
From Latin. re- means again. pen- means punishment. Feeling the punishment again inside yourself — until you change. That is repent.