verb
repent
rih-PEHNT
verb
1
To feel deep regret for something wrong you have done, often wanting to change.
"He repented of his youthful mistakes later in life."
"The preacher urged the crowd to repent and start anew."
How to Use Repent
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo feel genuine sorrow for wrongdoing, often with a wish to make things right.
When to use it
Often used in a religious or moral sense, though it can apply to any regretted action.
Common pairings
repent of a sin
repent your ways
Word Forms
repented past tense, repents singular
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Etymology
From Old French repentir, from Vulgar Latin repaenitire, ultimately from Latin paenitere, "to cause regret."