repletion: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, literary, medical/technical
Quick answer
What does “repletion” mean?
The state of being extremely or excessively full, especially from eating or drinking.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The state of being extremely or excessively full, especially from eating or drinking.
A state of complete fullness or abundance; the condition of being filled to capacity, not just physically but also in a more abstract sense (e.g., of information, sensation).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Slightly more common in British English formal/literary prose.
Connotations
Same in both varieties: formal, often suggesting excess to the point of discomfort or satiety.
Frequency
Low frequency in both varieties. More likely encountered in written texts than in everyday speech.
Grammar
How to Use “repletion” in a Sentence
[verb] to repletion (e.g., eat to repletion)the repletion of [noun] (e.g., the repletion of the stomach)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “repletion” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A (The verb is 'replete', not 'repletion')
American English
- N/A (The verb is 'replete', not 'repletion')
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A (The related adjective is 'replete', as in 'a mind replete with knowledge')
American English
- N/A (The related adjective is 'replete', as in 'replete with examples')
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in metaphorical use: 'The market's repletion with similar products led to a price war.'
Academic
Used in physiology, medicine, and psychology to describe the state of being full (e.g., 'signals of gastric repletion'). Also in literary criticism.
Everyday
Very rare. Might be used humorously or formally after a large meal.
Technical
Standard term in medical/physiological contexts describing the filled state of an organ or system.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “repletion”
Strong
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “repletion”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “repletion”
- Misspelling as 'repleation' or 'replection'. Using it as a synonym for 'completion'. Using it in overly casual contexts where 'fullness' or 'stuffed' would be more natural.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency, formal word. Common synonyms like 'fullness' or 'stuffed' are used in everyday language.
'Repletion' is about being filled up (often physically), while 'completion' is about finishing a task or making something whole. They are not synonyms.
It can be neutral in technical writing (e.g., 'gastric repletion'). In general use, it often implies excess, but phrases like 'pleasant repletion' are possible, though formal.
There is no direct verb form 'to repletion'. The related adjective is 'replete' (meaning 'filled or well-supplied with'), and the act of filling is 'replenish', though that implies filling again rather than to excess.
The state of being extremely or excessively full, especially from eating or drinking.
Repletion is usually formal, literary, medical/technical in register.
Repletion: in British English it is pronounced /rɪˈpliːʃn/, and in American English it is pronounced /rɪˈpliːʃən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to repletion (formal: until completely full)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of REPLETION like a REPEATEDly filled plate (RE-PLET-ion) until you can't eat anymore.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTAINERS (The body/stomach is a container filled to its limit).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'repletion' most appropriately used?