reprise

1 of 2

noun

re·​prise ri-ˈprēz 

 sense 3 is also  ri-ˈprīz

1

[French, from Middle French]

a

: a musical repetition:

(1)

: the repetition of the exposition preceding the development

(2)

: recapitulation sense 3

b

: a repeated performance : repetition

2

: a recurrence, renewal, or resumption of an action

3

: a deduction or charge made yearly out of a manor or estate

—usually used in plural

reprise

2 of 2

verb

re·​prise ri-ˈprīz 

 sense 1 is  ri-ˈprēz

reprised; reprising

transitive verb

1

a

: to repeat the performance of

b

: to repeat the principal points or stages of : recapitulate

2

archaic : take back

especially : to recover by force

3

archaic : compensate

Did you know?

When reprise was first adopted into English in the 15th century, it referred to a deduction or charge made yearly out of a manor or estate (and was usually used in the plural form reprises). It probably won't surprise you, then, to learn that reprise comes from an Anglo-French word meaning "seizure, repossession, or expense." Eventually, reprise came to refer to any action that was repeated or resumed. A later sense, borrowed from modern French, applies to specific types of repetition in musical compositions. That sense was eventually generalized to describe any subsequent and identical performance. It's possible, for example, to have a reprise of a television program or a book.

Synonyms

Noun

• duplication
• iteration
• redo
• reduplication
• reiteration
• renewal
• repeat
• repetition
• replay
• replication

Verb

• abstract
• boil down
• brief
• digest
• encapsulate
• epitomize
• outline
• recap
• recapitulate
• sum up
• summarize
• synopsize
• wrap up

Examples of reprise in a Sentence

Noun

They ended their performance with a reprise of the opening number.

The team is hoping to avoid a reprise of last year's defeat.

Verb

He will reprise his role in the play.

the prosecutor's closing statement effectively reprised the case against the defendant

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Mao launched a reprise of Stalin's crash industrialization program, expropriating vast quantities of grain from peasants based on fanciful production figures and executing hoarders as class enemies. —Nick Frisch, Foreign Affairs, 18 Oct. 2017

There are certainly issues upon which your mileage may vary: the film is at times sluggish, the jukebox tunes are largely mid-20th century tracks with multiple reprises, and Phillips demonstrates a lack of commitment to cinematic musicals (and an unexpected commitment to ’70s variety shows). —Richard Newby, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Oct. 2024

Verb

After starring in 28 Days Later (2002) and sitting out the 2007 sequel 28 Weeks Later, Cillian Murphy reprises his role in 28 Years Later as Jim, a former bicycle courier who previously woke from a coma to find the ‘Rage Virus’ has decimated London. —Glenn Garner, Deadline, 27 Oct. 2024

Bettany is reprising his role as the android who fell in love with the Scarlett Witch (played by Elizabeth Olsen) and then was destroyed by Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War. —Kirsten Chuba, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, seizure, repossession, expense, from feminine past participle of reprendre to take back, from re- + prendre to take, from Latin prehendere

Verb

Middle English, from Middle French repris, past participle of reprendre

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

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