Definition of REITERATED (original) (raw)
: to state or do over again or repeatedly sometimes with wearying effect
Did you know?
Can you guess the meaning of iterate, a less common relative of reiterate? It must mean simply "to state or do," right? Nope. Actually, iterate also means "to state or do again." It's no surprise, then, that some usage commentators have insisted that reiterate must always mean "to say or do again AND AGAIN." No such nice distinction exists in actual usage, however. Both reiterate and iterate can convey the idea of a single repetition or of many repetitions. Reiterate is the older of the two words—it first appeared in the 15th century, whereas iterate turned up in the 16th century. Both stem from the Latin verb iterare, which is itself from iterum ("again"), but reiterate took an extra step, through Latin reiterare ("to repeat").
Synonyms
Examples of reiterate in a Sentence
He iterates and reiterates that his lab likewise provided the French with many biological tools and samples, as well as significant technical guidance … —
Natalie Angier, New York Times Book Review, 24 Mar. 1991 Easy victories bring little satisfaction; repeated failures encourage reiterated effort, to the moment of ultimate gratification or ultimate resignation. —Peter Gay, Style in History, 1974 Judge Douglas has again, for, I believe, the fifth time, if not the seventh, in my presence, reiterated his charge of a conspiracy or combination between the National Democrats and Republicans. —Abraham Lincoln, debate versus Stephen A. Douglas, 7 Oct. 1858 "And are you glad to see me?" asked she, reiterating her former question, and pleased to detect the faint dawn of a smile. —Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights, 1847
She avoided answering our questions directly, instead reiterating that the answers could be found in her book. Allow me to reiterate: if I am elected, I will not raise taxes.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Tiffany Olson, the school board communications director, reiterated the district’s dedication to prioritizing teacher compensation and maintaining competitiveness in the educational landscape. —Julia Fomby, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025 When asked about the train encounter, a British embassy spokesperson reiterated the new ambassador's regrets about Epstein and his behavior. —Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 7 Feb. 2025 Osbourne’s wife, Sharon Osbourne, reiterated the news of his condition in an interview with The Sun after the concert was announced. —Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 7 Feb. 2025 The president is also expected to speak with Panama's President Raúl Mulino amid rising tensions over control of the Panama Canal, with Trump reiterating his desire for the U.S. to regain control. —Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for reiterate 
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Latin reiteratus, past participle of reiterare to repeat, from re- + iterare to iterate
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of reiterate was in the 15th century
Dictionary Entries Near reiterate
Cite this Entry
“Reiterate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reiterate. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.
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Last Updated: 11 Feb 2025 - Updated example sentences
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