adj · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ɹɪˈpɛtɪtɪv/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:R IH0 P EH1 T IH0 T IH0 V
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Happening many times in a similar way; containing repetition; repeating.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
The lecture was too repetitive and lost its impact.
He kept repeating the same repetitive tasks without making progress.
The movie was criticized for its repetitive scenes and predictable plot.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adjective
Meaning 2
characterized by repetition
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
repetitive movement
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: repetitious
Antonyms: nonrepetitive
3
adjective satellite
Meaning 3
repetitive and persistent
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the bluejay's insistent cry
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: insistent
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From Latin repetitus, with the suffix -ive.
Across languages
Translations
17 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
повтарящ се
(povtarjašt se)
— happening many times in a similar way
Bulgarian:
сериен
(serien)
— happening many times in a similar way
Catalan:
repetitiu
— happening many times in a similar way
Finnish:
toistava
— happening many times in a similar way
Finnish:
toistuva
— happening many times in a similar way
Finnish:
itseään toistava
— happening many times in a similar way
French:
répétitif
— happening many times in a similar way
Galician:
repetitivo
— happening many times in a similar way
German:
repetitiv
— happening many times in a similar way
Greek:
επαναληπτικός
(epanaliptikós)
— happening many times in a similar way
Hungarian:
ismétlődő
— happening many times in a similar way
Hungarian:
repetitív
— happening many times in a similar way
Italian:
ripetitivo
— happening many times in a similar way
Persian:
تکراری
(tekrâri)
— happening many times in a similar way
Portuguese:
repetitivo
— happening many times in a similar way
Spanish:
repetitivo
— happening many times in a similar way
Thai:
ซ้ําซาก
(sám-sâak)
— happening many times in a similar way