repeat that

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phraseinformal

   Words said to ask someone to say again what they just said because you did not catch or understand it.

   Grammar: Usually part of a request: Could you repeat that? It works as an imperative or a question.

   Patterns

   • Could you repeat that, please?
   • Can you repeat that?
   • Sorry, repeat that?

   Sorry, could you repeat that? The line is very noisy.

   Can you repeat that more slowly, please?

   I did not quite hear the last part. Would you mind repeating that?

2. 2phrasefixed phrase

   Used to emphasize an important statement by saying it again, often as a warning.

   Grammar: Placed after a statement for emphasis: This is not a drill. I repeat that, this is not a drill.

   Patterns

   • I repeat that, ...

   Nobody leaves the building, and I repeat that, nobody.

   The report was wrong. I repeat that, it was wrong.

   I will not apologize, and I repeat that clearly.

Common combinations

could you repeat that

Could you repeat that, please?

please repeat that

Please repeat that number.

would you mind repeating that

Would you mind repeating that name?

I will repeat that

I will repeat that for anyone who missed it.

say it again

Say it again if you can.

Synonyms and how they differ

say that again

Say that again is more casual and can also express agreement, while repeat that sounds slightly more polite.

pardon

Pardon is shorter and more formal, a one-word request for repetition.

come again

Come again is informal and can sound surprised or joking, while repeat that is neutral.

Word family

repeat verb

to say or do again

repetition noun

the act of doing again

repeatedly adverb

many times

repetitive adjective

done again and again, often dull

Commonly confused: repeat that or repeat?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “repeat that”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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