repair
/rɪˈpeə(r)/ IELTSAcademic
verb
To fix something that is broken, damaged, or not working well. It can also mean to make a relationship or situation better.
- We need to repair the roof.
- They repaired their friendship after the argument.
- The mechanic repaired my car quickly.
noun
The act of fixing something, or the work done to make something usable again.
- The phone is in for repair.
- Repairs will take two days.
- We paid for the repair.
Adinary Nuance
Repair is more specific than fix. Use repair when something is damaged, broken, or worn and needs work to restore it. Fix is more general and more common in everyday speech, while repair sounds a little more formal and is common in writing, technical contexts, and service work.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- sửa chữa
- Spanish
- reparar
- Chinese
- 修理
- Japanese
- 修理する
- Korean
- 수리하다
Etymology
Repair came into English from Old French réparer in the Middle English period. It goes back to Latin reparare, meaning “restore” or “make ready again.”
Common phrases
repair workin need of repairunder repaircarry out repairs
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is repair formal or informal?
- It is slightly formal. People often say fix in everyday conversation.
- What is the difference between repair and fix?
- Fix is broader and more casual. Repair usually means restoring something damaged or broken.
- Can repair be used for relationships?
- Yes. You can repair a friendship, trust, or damage to a relationship.
- Is repair common in business writing?
- Yes. It is common in reports, invoices, manuals, and official notices.