Definition

1. Noun:

   • The act of fixing or mending something: The process of restoring something damaged, broken, or worn to a good or usable condition.
   • The condition of something with respect to its need for or state of maintenance: The relative soundness or functionality of an object or structure.
   • (Archaic) A frequently visited place; a haunt: A place one often goes to.

2. Verb:

   • To restore (something damaged, faulty, or worn) to a good condition: To fix or mend.
   • To set right; to remedy or make amends for (a wrong, error, or loss): To compensate for or correct something.
   • To go or betake oneself to a place: To go, especially frequently or habitually.
   • To restore or renew; to give new life or energy to: To revitalize or rejuvenate.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The car is in the shop for repairs.
  • The old castle is in a poor state of repair.
  • (Archaic) The café was a popular repair for artists and writers.

• Verb:

  • I need to repair the broken fence.
  • How can I repair the damage done to our friendship?
  • After dinner, they would repair to the library for coffee.
  • The vacation helped repair her spirits after a difficult year.

Advanced Usage

• "beyond repair": Damaged to such an extent that it cannot be fixed.
  • The phone was dropped in water and is now beyond repair.
• "under repair": Currently being fixed.
  • The main road is under repair, so expect delays.
• "in good/bad repair": In a good or poor condition.
  • The landlord is required to keep the property in good repair.

Variants and Related Words

• Repairable (adj): Able to be fixed.
  • Fortunately, the damage to the car was repairable.
• Repairer (n): A person who repairs things.
  • He works as a watch repairer.
• Repairman (n): A man whose job is to repair machines or equipment.
• Repair shop (n): A place where repairs are done.

Synonyms

• Fix: To mend or repair (common and general).
• Mend: To repair something that is broken or torn (often for clothes or simple items).
• Restore: To bring back to an original or functional state.
• Remedy: To set right or correct (often for non-physical problems like errors).
• Rectify: To correct or make right (formal, often for mistakes or injustices).

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Repair" is not commonly used to form phrasal verbs. Its meanings are typically expressed directly or with prepositions like "to" as in "repair to [a place]".)

Related Idioms

• "Repair the damage": To try to correct the negative effects of something.
  • He tried to repair the damage caused by his thoughtless comments.
• "In working order": Functioning correctly (related to the state of being repaired).
  • The mechanic got the engine back in working order.

Noun

1. a frequently visited place
2. a formal way of referring to the condition of something
   • the building was in good repair
3. the act of putting something in working order again

Verb

1. give new life or energy to
   • A hot soup will revive me
   • This will renovate my spirits
   • This treatment repaired my health
2. set straight or right
   • remedy these deficiencies
   • rectify the inequities in salaries
   • repair an oversight
3. move, travel, or proceed toward some place
   • He repaired to his cabin in the woods
4. make amends for; pay compensation for
   • One can never fully repair the suffering and losses of the Jews in the Third Reich
   • She was compensated for the loss of her arm in the accident
5. restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken
   • She repaired her TV set
   • Repair my shoes please