What does "repartee" mean?
A swift, witty reply, especially one that is amusing.
Repartee
/ˌɹɛpɑɹˈteɪ/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A swift, witty reply, especially one that is amusing.
- Grammar: repartee is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: acknowledgment, answer, answering, antiphon.
- Useful contrasts: awkwardness, dullness, serious exchange.
- Usage evidence: Many persons must laugh when a great person or an acknowledged wit says a clever thing, such as a smart repartee, or a really good pun.
How to use "repartee"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "repartee" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "repartee" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "repartee" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "repartee" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "repartee" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "acknowledgment" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "repartee", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A swift, witty reply, especially one that is amusing. countable, uncountable
"Many persons must laugh when a great person or an acknowledged wit says a clever thing, such as a smart repartee, or a really good pun."
- 2 adroitness and cleverness in reply wordnet
- 3 A conversation marked by a series of witty retorts. countable, uncountable
- 4 A skill in replying swiftly and wittily. countable, uncountable
"The humor of my proposition appealed more strongly to Miss Trevor than I had looked for, and from that time forward she became her old self again;[…]. Our table in the dining-room became again the abode of scintillating wit and caustic repartee, Farrar bracing up to his old standard, and the demand for seats in the vicinity rose to an animated competition."
Verb
- 1 To reply with a repartee. transitive
"Aubrey speaks of him as 'incomparable at reparteeing, the bull that was bayted, his witt beinge most sparkling, when most set on and provoked.'"
- 2 To have a repartee (a conversation marked by witty retorts or replies). transitive
"To see them together, friendly, reparteeing, chummy, would turn your stomach--Barbara so exquisite and high-born, and the man, his eyes full of evil fires, sitting like a great toad on the model's chair."
Antonyms
Example
"Many persons must laugh when a great person or an acknowledged wit says a clever thing, such as a smart repartee, or a really good pun."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "repartee"?
Common synonyms include: acknowledgment, answer, answering, antiphon, aphorism, apothegm.
How do you use "repartee" in a sentence?
Many persons must laugh when a great person or an acknowledged wit says a clever thing, such as a smart repartee, or a really good pun.
How do you pronounce "repartee"?
Pronounced /ˌɹɛpɑɹˈteɪ/.
Etymology
From French repartie, a deverbal of repartir (“to retort”).