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

And a reprise of a ballad about happy days, first played as a falsehood only to be refashioned as a genuine statement of rebirth, suggests inspiration momentarily winning over perspiration. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 4 Dec. 2024

Stan will next reprise Bucky Barnes in Thunderbolts, which is set to be released on May 2, 2025. —Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2024

Verb

James Austin Johnson reprised his role as President-elect Donald Trump, who claimed victory last month. —Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 14 Dec. 2024

Prominent figures from the original cast, including Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek, alongside Muniz, are also confirmed to reprise their classic roles. —Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 14 Dec. 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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