Meaning & use
repaint
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Meanings
verbtransitive
To put a fresh layer of paint on a surface, often changing its color.
Grammar: Takes an object: repaint the wall.
Patterns
- repaint something
- repaint something in a color
- repaint something with something
We need to repaint the kitchen before we move out.
She repainted the old wooden chair in bright yellow.
The city repainted the crosswalk lines last week.
verbtransitive
To paint a picture or artwork again, either to restore it or to create a new version.
Grammar: Takes an object: repaint the portrait.
Patterns
- repaint something
- repaint a picture
The artist decided to repaint the landscape after visiting the site again.
Restorers carefully repainted the damaged areas of the fresco.
He repainted the same scene several times, each time in a different mood.
Word forms
| third person singular | repaints |
|---|---|
| past tense | repainted |
| past participle | repainted |
| -ing form | repainting |
Common combinations
- repaint a room
- They repainted the living room a warm gray.
- repaint a fence
- He repainted the fence to protect it from the weather.
- repaint a car
- The mechanic repainted the car after fixing the dent.
- repaint a picture
- She repainted the picture because she wasn't happy with the colors.
- repaint in a color
- We repainted the door in a deep blue.
Synonyms and how they differ
- recoat
- More technical; often used for protective layers, not for changing color.
- touch up
- Means to paint only small damaged areas, not the whole surface.
Word family
- paint verb
- To put paint on something for the first time or in general.
- painter noun
- A person who paints, especially as a job or art.
- painting noun
- A picture made with paint; also the activity of painting.
- repainting noun
- The act of painting something again.
Commonly confused: repaint or repair?
repaint vs repair
Repair means to fix something broken; repaint means to apply new paint. They sound similar but are different actions.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'repaint' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Repaint means to apply a new layer of paint, so covering old stains fits. The other options describe fixing, which is 'repair', not 'repaint'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “repaint”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.