What does repenting mean?
Repenting means acknowledging a mistake, sin, or harmful choice with sincere regret and resolving to act differently. It is stronger than merely feeling sorry, because it normally includes a change of heart and a willingness to abandon the behaviour that caused the regret. The word often appears in moral and religious contexts, as in repenting of wrongdoing or one's sins, but it can also describe abandoning a former conviction or way of life. Repenting has a serious, sometimes solemn tone and suggests personal accountability rather than inconvenience or inconvenience alone. Its related noun, repentance, is especially common in discussions of morality, religion, and the consequences of harmful actions. Although regret can describe a private feeling, repentance commonly suggests an outward turn away from what was done wrong. The word is consequently useful when describing not only remorse but also moral change and the resolution to act better.
verbTo feel sincere regret for wrongdoing and resolve not to repeat it. It may also mean to disown previous beliefs or actions.
- To feel sincere regret for wrongdoing and resolve to change one's conduct.
- To disown or renounce a former belief, commitment, or way of life.
"After years of dishonesty, he decided to repent and make amends."
"The company repented of its decision to close the factory and offered workers new positions."
"She began to repent of her habit of speaking without thinking."
Repenting is more than feeling sorry: it means acknowledging the mistake and turning away from it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does repenting come from?
Repent comes through Old French from the Latin verb paenitere, meaning "to feel sorrow or regret," especially regret for wrongdoing. The English word was established by the late Middle English period and became prominent in religious language through translations of the Bible. Its Latin relatives include penitent, penitence, and penitential, all of which continue the same association with remorse and moral reflection.
Related word forms
How repenting is actually used
The word is strongly associated with moral, religious, and figurative contexts. In modern general use, it usually implies a deliberate change in behaviour or attitude rather than regret alone. The form may appear before a noun, as in "a repenting criminal," though "repentant" is more usual in contemporary English.