English vocabulary · B2
Repress
/rɪˈpres/ · v.
It means to push a feeling or memory back inside and stop yourself from showing it.
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Example sentences
- He repressed his anger and said nothing.
- Years of repressed pain finally came out.
Word origin and roots
from Latin
- re — back (from Latin)
- press — push (from Latin)
Synonyms and nuances
- SUPPRESS (forcibly stopping something from spreading)
- HIDE (keeping feelings or facts out of view)
- BOTTLE UP (emotions are held in without release)
Words with the same root
premere — to press
- express — to press out — to show or communicate feelings outward
- compress — to press together — to make smaller by squeezing
- impress — to press into — to make a strong mark on someone's mind
Lesson notes
Repress. It means to push a feeling or memory back inside and stop yourself from showing it.
Similar words are suppress, hide, and bottle up. Use repress when someone forces a feeling or memory deep inside and does not let it out.
He repressed his anger and said nothing. Years of repressed pain finally came out.
From Latin. Re means back. Press means push. Push it back, keep it inside, never let it out. That is repress.