repetitive

Everyday

1. Repetitive means doing or saying the same thing again and again. tree →
2. A repetitive task or job is boring because it is the same every time. tree →
3. In writing, repetitive means using the same words or sentence starts too many times. tree →

In the lessons

In English lessons teachers warn against repetitive writing («then … then … then») and suggest varied sentence openers; but repetition can also be used on purpose in poems and songs. In maths and computing, repetitive steps can be done with a loop. In health, repetitive movement can strain muscles. Phrases: «a repetitive job», «repetitive strain injury», «repetitive pattern».

Examples

• Copying lines is repetitive and boring. tree →
• Your story is a bit repetitive, so try new sentence openers. tree →
• The song has a repetitive chorus that is easy to remember. tree →
• A computer is good at repetitive jobs, so we use a loop. tree →
• The wallpaper had a repetitive pattern of stars. tree →
• Typing all day can cause repetitive strain injury. tree →
• The robot does the same repetitive movement thousands of times. tree →

Note

Adjective. Noun: repetition; verb: repeat. Spelling trap: «repetitive», with «-pet-», not «repeatitive». Repetitive is usually a criticism; «rhythmic» or «patterned» can sound kinder.