repair
B1Formal to neutral
Definition
Meaning
To restore (something damaged, worn, or faulty) to a good condition.
To rectify or set right (a situation, relationship, or breach of law). Also, the act or process of restoring something.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily focuses on physical restoration (most common use), but also used metaphorically (e.g., repair a reputation). As a noun, can mean the result of the action (e.g., 'The repair is holding well.') or the process itself.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. The noun 'repairs' is common in both ('under repair', 'carry out repairs'). The verb 'fix' is more frequent and informal in AmE, while BrE may use 'mend' more for clothing or simple items.
Connotations
Slightly more formal/technical than 'fix' or 'mend' in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in BrE than AmE due to AmE's strong preference for 'fix' in informal contexts for physical objects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[VERB] + [OBJECT] (repair the car)[VERB] + [OBJECT] + [PREP PHRASE] (repair the damage to the roof)[BE] + [UNDER] + repair (The road is under repair.)[CARRY OUT] + [repair/repairs] + [on OBJECT]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Beyond repair (irreparable)”
- “In good repair (in good condition)”
- “Repair to (formal: go to a place)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Cost of repairs and maintenance, capital repairs, warranty repair.
Academic
DNA repair mechanisms, ecosystem repair, social repair.
Everyday
Getting a phone repaired, repairing a puncture, home DIY repairs.
Technical
Automatic error repair, structural repair, solder repair.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The bridge is closed for essential repairs.
- The repair was more costly than expected.
- The old cottage was in a poor state of repair.
American English
- My car is in the shop for repairs.
- The warranty covers any necessary repair.
- He does home repairs on the weekend.
verb
British English
- I need to repair the fence before winter.
- They worked to repair the damage caused by the flood.
- He's skilled at repairing vintage watches.
American English
- We should get the roof repaired soon.
- The technician will repair the laptop's motherboard.
- It's time to repair our relationship.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Can you repair this toy?
- My bike needs a repair.
- The road is under repair.
- It costs a lot to repair a car engine.
- The company offered to repair the faulty product for free.
- We are trying to repair our friendship after the argument.
- The cost of repairs exceeded the value of the vehicle.
- Technicians were flown in to repair the specialised equipment.
- Diplomatic efforts aimed to repair the strained relations between the two countries.
- The government launched a programme to repair the social fabric torn by the conflict.
- The spacecraft's self-repair systems successfully isolated the damaged module.
- Some types of cellular damage are beyond biological repair.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of RE-PAIR: to put a broken pair (of things, or parts) back together again.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROBLEMS ARE BREAKAGES / SOLUTIONS ARE REPAIRS (e.g., 'repair a relationship', 'repair the economy').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not use 'repair' for human healing (use 'treat', 'heal', 'recover').
- Avoid 'make a repair' – use 'carry out/do a repair' or simply 'repair' as a verb.
- Note: 'ремонт' often translates to 'renovation' (of a flat) or 'maintenance', not just 'repair'.
Common Mistakes
- *I must repair my health. (Incorrect for health) -> I must restore my health.
- *He repaired his mistake. (Possible but less common) -> He corrected his mistake.
- *The repairs of the car (less idiomatic) -> The repairs to the car / The car repairs.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the verb 'repair' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Repair' is often formal/technical. 'Fix' is the most common and informal, especially in AmE. 'Mend' is often for clothes, fabric, or simple items (mend a sock), and for non-physical things like 'mend one's ways'.
Not commonly. The related adjective is 'repairable' (can be fixed) or 'irreparable' (cannot be fixed). 'Repair' itself is primarily a verb or noun.
It's understandable but not the most idiomatic collocation. Preferred verbs are 'carry out', 'do', or 'perform' a repair. Often, the verb 'repair' itself is used (e.g., 'I will repair it').
It means something is so badly damaged that it cannot be fixed. It can be used literally (a car crushed beyond repair) or metaphorically (a trust broken beyond repair).