repetition
rep-uh-TISH-un
/ˌrɛp.əˈtɪʃ.ən/
The act of repeating something; in fitness, one complete movement of a single exercise (often abbreviated as 'rep').
In fitness context, it refers to a single complete execution of an exercise movement (e.g., lowering and raising a weight once).
The story behind the word. Derived from Old French 'repeticion' and Latin 'repetitio', meaning a striking back or re-seeking. In physical culture, it came to describe seeking the same motion over and over to stimulate muscle adaptation.
Word relationships
- rep: The standard gym abbreviation for repetition.
- reiteration: Refers to stating or doing something again, usually in speech or formal contexts.
- singularity: Refers to a unique, non-repeated instance.
Commonly confused with
- set: A set consists of a series of repetitions grouped together without rest.
Word family
- repeat (verb): To perform or say again.
- repetitive (adjective): Containing or characterized by repetition.
Collocations
- maximum repetitions
- repetition count
- slow repetition
- endless repetition
Example sentences
- "Aim for ten repetitions of each exercise before taking a thirty-second rest." Exercise instruction
Memory hook
Re (again) + petition (ask) = asking your body to do the movement again. Re-petition: petitioning your muscles to lift once more.
When not to use
Do not confuse with 'set', which is a cluster of several repetitions performed consecutively.
Fun facts
- Bodybuilders popularized shortenings like 'rep' in gym slang during the mid-20th century.
Related words
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.