# repress

> English word · Verb · IPA /ɹəˈpɹɛs/ · frequency rank #36,313

## Definitions
1. To forcefully prevent an upheaval from developing further.
2. To check; to keep back.

## Etymology
Ultimately from Latin repressus, the perfect passive participle of reprimō (“I repress”).

## Easily confused with
- **reprise** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/repress-vs-reprise)
- **repressed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/repress-vs-repressed)
- **recess** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/recess-vs-repress)
- **refresh** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/refresh-vs-repress)
- **redress** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/redress-vs-repress)
- **redness** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/redness-vs-repress)
- **regress** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/regress-vs-repress)

## Common misspellings (9)
`erpress`, `reperss`, `reppress`, `repres`, `reprress`, `reprses`, `rerpess`, `rperess`, `rrepress`

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