repelling

Everyday

1. Repelling means pushing something away or keeping it away. tree →
2. (science) Magnets are repelling when like poles (north and north, or south and south) push away from each other. tree →
3. Repelling an attack means fighting it off. tree →
4. (rarer) Something repelling can make you feel disgust (more often "repellent" or "repulsive"). tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons on magnets, like poles repel and unlike poles attract; you can feel the repelling force. Waterproof coats are good at repelling water. Insect spray works by repelling mosquitoes. In history, castles were built for repelling attackers.

Examples

• The two north poles are repelling each other. tree →
• Feel how the magnets push apart — they're repelling. tree →
• This coat is great at repelling rain. tree →
• Citronella candles help with repelling mosquitoes. tree →
• The soldiers succeeded in repelling the attack. tree →
• Oil and water are repelling each other in the jar. tree →
• Ducks' feathers are good at repelling water. tree →

Note

Double l: repel → repelled, repelling. Opposite: attract. Noun: repulsion; "repellent" is a spray or an adjective. Remember: like poles repel, unlike (opposite) poles attract.