# repent

> English word · Verb · IPA /ɹɪˈpɛnt/ · frequency rank #18,416

## Definitions
1. To feel pain, sorrow, or regret for what one has done or omitted to do; the cause for repenting may be indicated with "of".
2. To be sorry for sin as morally evil, and to seek forgiveness; to cease to practice sin and to love.
3. To feel pain on account of; to remember with sorrow.
4. To be sorry for, to regret.
5. To cause to have sorrow or regret.
6. To cause (oneself) to feel pain or regret.
7. To change one's mind.

## Etymology
From Middle English repenten, from Old French repentir, from Vulgar Latin *repaenitīre, from Late Latin paenitīre, from Classical Latin paenitēre. Compare Modern French repentir.

## Easily confused with
- **reset** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/repent-vs-reset)
- **ripen** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/repent-vs-ripen)
- **report** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/repent-vs-report)
- **Rupert** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/repent-vs-rupert)
- **repost** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/repent-vs-repost)
- **resent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/repent-vs-resent)
- **revert** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/repent-vs-revert)
- **rodent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/repent-vs-rodent)
- **respect** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/repent-vs-respect)
- **reprint** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/repent-vs-reprint)
- **rent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rent-vs-repent)
- **repel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/repel-vs-repent)
- **recent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/recent-vs-repent)
- **repeat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/repeat-vs-repent)
- **reject** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reject-vs-repent)
- **repeal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/repeal-vs-repent)
- **regent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/regent-vs-repent)
- **reopen** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reopen-vs-repent)
- **reheat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reheat-vs-repent)
- **reagent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reagent-vs-repent)

## Common misspellings (9)
`erpent`, `reepnt`, `repennt`, `repentt`, `repetn`, `repnet`, `reppent`, `rpeent`, `rrepent`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/repent