Meaning & use
repentance
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountableformal
Deep regret for something wrong you have done, together with a real wish to change.
Grammar: Uncountable; usually followed by for the wrong done: repentance for his crimes.
Patterns
- repentance for something
- show repentance
The prisoner spoke of his repentance for the harm he had caused.
Her tears showed genuine repentance, not just fear of punishment.
The apology lacked any sign of repentance.
noununcountablereligion
In religion, the act of turning away from sin and seeking forgiveness.
Grammar: Uncountable in religious writing; often paired with forgiveness or salvation.
Patterns
- repentance of sins
- call to repentance
The preacher called the congregation to repentance.
Many traditions teach that repentance must come before forgiveness.
He spent the season of Lent in prayer and repentance.
Common combinations
- genuine repentance
- The judge noted the genuine repentance in his letter to the family.
- show repentance
- He did not show any repentance after the incident.
- act of repentance
- Volunteering at the shelter was his act of repentance.
- repentance for sins
- The ritual is a time of repentance for sins of the past year.
- deep repentance
- She felt deep repentance for the lies she had told.
Synonyms and how they differ
- remorse
- Remorse stresses the painful feeling of guilt, whereas repentance adds the intention to change.
- contrition
- Contrition is more formal and focuses on sorrow for wrongdoing, often in a religious setting.
- penitence
- Penitence sounds religious and suggests acts of self-punishment or atonement.
- regret
- Regret is the weakest and broadest term; you can regret a harmless choice without any wrongdoing.
Opposites
Word family
- repent verb
- to feel sorry for wrongdoing and resolve to change
- repentant adjective
- feeling or showing regret for wrongdoing
- unrepentant adjective
- showing no regret
- repentantly adverb
- in a regretful way
Commonly confused: repentance or repetition?
repentance vs repetition
Repetition means doing or saying something again. It sounds similar but has nothing to do with regret.
Practice
Which word best fits? The thief showed real ___ and promised never to steal again.
Choose one answer.
Repentance means regret plus a wish to change, which matches the promise. Resentment and reluctance describe different feelings.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “repentance”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.