What is repair? Pronunciation and usage in English

repair means . Learn how to pronounce and use repair through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of repair

repairverb

/rɪˈpɛː/
Definition & pronunciation of repair

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "repair" in English. Here's a breakdown and some tips:

The Most Common Pronunciation (American English):

  • rip-AIR
    • rip: Like the word "rip" (as in tearing something). Short, quick.
    • AIR: Like the sound you make when you exhale. A clear "ah" sound.

The Pronunciation (British English):

  • re-PAIR
    • re: Like the word "re" (as in "re-done").
    • PAIR: Like the word "pair" (as in matching socks).

Here's a breakdown of the sounds and how to create them:

  1. The 'r' sound: The 'r' in "repair" is a tricky one. In American English, it's a tap or a flap r. Your tongue briefly touches the roof of your mouth just behind your teeth. It's a very light contact. In British English, the 'r' is a more pronounced 'r' sound.

  2. The vowel sounds:

    • rip: Focus on a short, crisp "i" sound, almost like the "i" in "bit."
    • air: A clear, open "ah" sound, as in "father" or "car."

Resources to Listen and Practice:

To help me give you even more specific advice, could you tell me:

  • What variety of English are you most interested in (American or British)?

Usage and examples with the word repair in English

Let's break down how to use the word "repair" in English. It’s a versatile word with lots of different shades of meaning. Here's a breakdown categorized by usage:

1. Fixing Something Broken (Most Common)

  • Definition: To restore something to its original or working condition after it's damaged.
  • Examples:
    • "I need to repair my bicycle tire." (Fix a flat tire)
    • "The mechanic will repair the engine." (Fix a broken engine)
    • "She’s repairing a hole in her sweater." (Mending a tear)
    • "The company is working to repair the damage caused by the storm." (Fixing the aftermath of a disaster)

2. Restoring or Maintaining (More Broad)

  • Definition: To restore something to a good state, often proactively to prevent damage.
  • Examples:
    • "He regularly repairs his car." (Maintains it; gets it serviced)
    • "The insurance company will repair the roof if it’s damaged." (Restores it to its proper state)
    • "We need to repair the old bridge." (Restore it to a safe condition)

3. Correcting a Problem or Error

  • Definition: To fix a mistake or imperfection. This can be in behavior, relationships, or even skills.
  • Examples:
    • "He apologized and tried to repair his relationship with his brother." (Fix a broken relationship)
    • "The teacher is helping the student repair his grammar." (Correct mistakes in writing)
    • "We need to repair the errors in the report before it’s submitted." (Correct mistakes)

4. Repairing (as a Verb - "To Make Something Better")

  • Definition: This is often used as a verb meaning to improve something, often subtly.
  • Examples:
    • "She’s trying to repair her confidence after the setback." (Improve her confidence)
    • "He’s working on repairing his reputation." (Restore his image)

5. "Repair" as a Noun (Referring to the action or process)

  • Definition: The act or process of fixing something.
  • Examples:
    • "The repair work took a week." (The process of fixing)
    • "He specialized in electrical repairs." (His area of expertise – fixing electrical things)

Key Considerations & Related Words:

  • Synonyms: Fix, mend, restore, renovate, overhaul
  • Prepositions: Often used with prepositions like "to," "of," or "on":
    • "to repair something" (e.g., "to repair the roof")
    • "of something" (e.g., "a repair bill")
    • "on something" (e.g., “repair work on the road”)
  • Phrasal Verbs: “Carry out a repair” – to perform a repair.

Here’s a quick table to summarize:

Usage Definition Example
Fixing Something Restore to working condition "Repair the computer."
Maintaining Restore to good state "Repair the car regularly."
Correcting Fix a mistake "Repair the error in the code."
As a Verb (Improve) Make something better "Repair her damaged self-esteem."
As a Noun The act of fixing "The repair was completed quickly."

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • What kind of context are you using "repair" in? (e.g., talking about a broken appliance, a relationship, a piece of writing?)

Synonyms for the word repair

Practice with vocabulary repair

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The IT department swiftly moved to ______ the critical server malfunction, restoring services within the hour.
  2. After the storm, the city council allocated significant funds to ______ the damaged public infrastructure.
  3. To improve the vehicle's performance and extend its lifespan, the mechanics recommended a complete ______ of the engine.
  4. The project manager held an emergency meeting to ______ the unexpected budget deficit.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. The company decided to ______ the outdated machinery to enhance production efficiency. a) replace b) renovate c) repair d) upgrade e) restore

  2. Following the public relations crisis, the CEO promised to take immediate action to ______ the company's tarnished image. a) recover b) restore c) rebuild d) rectify e) repair

  3. Which of the following words can describe the act of fixing a broken device? a) mend b) amend c) adjust d) fix e) repair

  4. Before the official launch, the marketing team decided to ______ the promotional materials based on preliminary feedback. a) revise b) amend c) modify d) reform e) adjust

  5. The audit revealed several inconsistencies that needed to be ______ immediately to ensure compliance. a) verified b) addressed c) resolved d) rectified e) inspected

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The extensive wear and tear on the bridge's support structures necessitated immediate fixing. Rewrite using "repair":

  2. A significant software bug caused the system to crash, and an engineer was dispatched to get it working again. Rewrite using "repair":

  3. The board asked the legal team to fix the ambiguities in the contract before signing. Rewrite without using "repair":

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. repair
  2. repair
  3. overhaul
  4. address

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. a) replace, b) renovate, c) repair, d) upgrade, e) restore
  2. b) restore, c) rebuild, e) repair
  3. a) mend, d) fix, e) repair
  4. a) revise, b) amend, c) modify
  5. b) addressed, c) resolved, d) rectified

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The extensive wear and tear on the bridge's support structures necessitated immediate repair.
  2. An engineer was dispatched to repair the significant software bug that caused the system to crash.
  3. The board asked the legal team to rectify the ambiguities in the contract before signing.

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