I’ve often seen “repass” and “repast” confused because they look and sound similar, but they have very different meanings. If you’re writing about a meal, celebration, or shared gathering, choosing the right word can completely change the meaning of your sentence. So, which one is correct? Repast is the word you want when you mean a meal or a time spent eating.
Quick Answer
Repass and repast are both correct English words, but they have completely different meanings. Repass is a verb meaning to pass again, pass back, or return by the same route. Repast is usually a noun meaning a meal or food served for a meal. So, if you mean “a meal,” use repast; if you mean “to pass again,” use repass.
Quick Comparison Table
| Word | Part of Speech | Main Meaning | Example |
| repass | Verb | To pass again or pass back | We had to repass the same road. |
| repast | Noun | A meal or food eaten at a meal | The guests enjoyed a simple repast. |
The two words are not alternative spellings of the same word. They are separate words with different meanings and grammatical functions.
What Does “Repass” Mean?
Repass is a verb that means to pass again, pass back, or go through or over something again. It can describe physical movement, such as passing along a road again, but it can also be used for something such as a law or resolution being passed again.
Repass as a verb
When repass describes movement, it means going past or through something another time.
- We had to repass the old bridge on our way home.
- The hikers decided to repass the trail before sunset.
- She repassed the same shop without noticing it.
It can also mean to pass something again, particularly in formal or political contexts.
- The legislature voted to repass the amended bill.
- The committee may repass the resolution next week.
The past tense and past participle are repassed, while the present participle is repassing.
What Does “Repast” Mean?
Repast is primarily a noun meaning a meal or food provided for a meal. It is a real, established English word, but it is more literary or formal than the everyday word meal. Cambridge specifically labels it literary, while Collins also describes its common noun use as a meal.
Repast as a noun
You might see repast in literary writing, historical writing, formal descriptions, or contexts where a meal is being described in an elegant or traditional way.
- The travelers stopped for a modest repast.
- A generous repast was prepared for the guests.
- After the ceremony, the family shared a quiet repast.
In ordinary conversation, however, most people would simply say meal:
We had a delicious meal after the ceremony.
rather than:
We had a delicious repast after the ceremony.
Both can be grammatical, but meal is much more natural in everyday English.
Repast can also have a specialized social meaning
In some American contexts, particularly in descriptions of funeral customs, repast can refer to a meal or gathering held after a funeral service. Modern dictionary examples also document this use.
For example:
The family invited everyone to the repast after the funeral.
Here, repast refers to the meal or gathering associated with the funeral, not to the act of passing somewhere.
Repass vs Repast: Key Difference
The easiest way to understand the difference is to focus on the action versus the meal.
Repass = pass again
Repast = meal
Consider these sentences:
We had to repass the entrance because we forgot our bags.
Here, repass describes an action.
We stopped for a repast before continuing our journey.
Here, repast names a meal.
Changing one word for the other changes the meaning completely.
Repass is a verb
Because repass is normally a verb, it describes something someone does.
- I repassed the gate.
- They repass the bridge.
- She will repass the building.
Repast is mainly a noun
Because repast is normally a noun, it names something, specifically a meal or food served at a meal.
- The repast was simple.
- They prepared a repast.
- We enjoyed the evening repast.
This grammatical difference is one of the clearest ways to avoid confusing the two.
When Should You Use Repass?
Use repass when you mean to pass again, go back along a route, or pass something again.
When talking about travel or movement
We had to repass the village to reach the main road.
The driver repassed the same intersection after taking a wrong turn.
When talking about a route or location
The runners will repass the stadium on their final lap.
We repassed the bridge on our return journey.
When talking about laws or resolutions
Repass can also mean to pass a law, resolution, or similar measure again. This is especially useful in formal or governmental writing.
The council voted to repass the revised ordinance.
Lawmakers were asked to repass the measure.
When you should NOT use repass
Do not use repass when you mean meal.
❌ We enjoyed a delicious repass.
✅ We enjoyed a delicious repast.
❌ The family prepared a repass for the guests.
✅ The family prepared a repast for the guests.
If the sentence is about eating, food, dinner, lunch, or a meal, repast is the appropriate word.
When Should You Use Repast?
Use repast when you mean a meal or food served as a meal.
In formal or literary writing
The travelers gathered around the table for their evening repast.
When describing a meal
The host prepared a generous repast for the visitors.
In historical or traditional contexts
The word can fit particularly well when describing older customs, formal gatherings, or historical scenes.
After the ceremony, the guests shared a modest repast.
In funeral-related contexts
In some American usage, repast can refer to the meal or gathering following a funeral.
Friends and relatives gathered for a repast after the service.
This usage is legitimate, but the exact meaning can depend on the community and context.
When you should NOT use repast
Do not use repast when you mean to pass again.
❌ We had to repast the bridge.
✅ We had to repass the bridge.
❌ The runners repasted the finish line.
✅ The runners repassed the finish line.
Repass or Repast for a Meal?
If you are asking which word means a meal, the answer is repast.
We enjoyed a wonderful repast.
Repass does not mean meal. It is a verb related to passing again.
For everyday English, however, meal is usually the more natural choice.
We enjoyed a wonderful meal.
Repast is more formal or literary.
Repass or Repast in a Sentence?
The correct choice depends on what the sentence means.
If the sentence describes passing again
Use repass:
We had to repass the same road.
If the sentence describes eating
Use repast:
The travelers stopped for a repast.
If you are talking about a funeral gathering
Repast may be appropriate:
The family invited the guests to the repast after the funeral.
If you are talking about passing a law again
Use repass:
The legislature voted to repass the bill.
Common Phrases
A light repast
A light repast means a small or simple meal.
The guests were offered a light repast before the ceremony.
An evening repast
An evening repast refers to an evening meal.
The travelers gathered for their evening repast.
A funeral repast
A funeral repast can refer to a meal or gathering held after a funeral, particularly in some American communities.
Relatives traveled from several states to attend the funeral repast.
Repass a law
To repass a law means to pass it again.
The legislature met to repass the amended law.
Repass the road
To repass a road means to pass along it again.
We had to repass the road because the first route was blocked.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using repass for a meal
❌ We sat down for a delicious repass.
✅ We sat down for a delicious repast.
Why: A meal is a repast, while repass means to pass again.
Mistake 2: Using repast for movement
❌ We had to repast the bridge.
✅ We had to repass the bridge.
Why: Passing over the bridge again requires the verb repass.
Mistake 3: Writing “repass” when describing food
❌ The restaurant served a traditional repass.
✅ The restaurant served a traditional repast.
Why: The sentence is referring to food or a meal.
Mistake 4: Writing “repast” when discussing legislation
❌ The Senate voted to repast the bill.
✅ The Senate voted to repass the bill.
Why: Passing legislation again is one of the established meanings of repass.
Mistake 5: Treating repass and repast as spelling variants
❌ Repass and repast are two spellings of the same word.
✅ Repass and repast are different words with different meanings.
Why: Their meanings and grammatical roles are distinct.
Mistake 6: Assuming repast is incorrect because it sounds unusual
❌ “Repast” isn’t a real English word because “meal” is more common.
✅ “Repast” is a real English word meaning a meal.
Why: It is less common and more literary/formal than meal, but it is fully established English.
Why Do People Get This Wrong?
The confusion is understandable because repass and repast look extremely similar.
Both begin with repa-, and the difference comes down to just one letter: ss versus st.
Their pronunciations can also make the distinction less obvious when someone encounters one word only in speech. However, their meanings are unrelated in modern standard usage:
- repass is connected with passing again
- repast is connected with food and eating
The safest approach is therefore to decide what the sentence means before choosing the spelling.
Can Both Forms Be Correct?
Yes. Both repass and repast are correct English words. The important point is that they are not interchangeable.
Repass is correct when you mean “pass again”
The cyclist repassed the other riders.
Repast is correct when you mean “meal”
The guests enjoyed a formal repast.
There is no British-versus-American spelling rule that makes one of these words the “correct” version of the other. Both exist in English, but they perform different grammatical jobs and express different ideas.
British vs American English
There is not a simple British-versus-American distinction in which British English uses one spelling and American English uses the other.
Both repass and repast occur in English varieties, although their frequency and contexts can differ.
Repast is generally understood as a literary or formal word for a meal. Cambridge labels it literary, and Collins likewise identifies its meal sense while recording additional older meanings.
Repass is used as a verb meaning to pass again or pass back. Collins records related literary and formal uses as well.
So you should not choose between them based on whether you are writing for a British or American audience. Choose according to meaning.
Pronunciation
Pronunciation can vary somewhat by region.
Repast is commonly pronounced approximately:
- UK: ri-PAHST
- US: ri-PAST
Cambridge gives /rɪˈpɑːst/ for UK English and /rɪˈpæst/ for US English.
Repass is pronounced with the final part sounding like pass, although pronunciation details vary between English varieties. Collins lists different British and American pronunciations.
Because the words differ in meaning as well as spelling, pronunciation should not be the only way you distinguish them.
Word Origin and History
The two words developed from different French-related sources.
Repass comes from French repasser, connected with the idea of passing again. Its English history goes back to Middle English, and dictionaries record it from around the 15th century.
Repast has a different history connected with words for feeding and food. It entered English through Middle English and Anglo-French, ultimately relating to Latin pascere, meaning to feed or pasture. Dictionaries record its English use from the 14th century.
So although the spellings look similar today, the words developed along different paths.
Simple Memory Trick
Remember:
RePASS = PASS again.
RepAST = a meal you EAT.
If the sentence involves movement or passing again, choose repass.
If it involves food or a meal, choose repast.
Quick Decision Guide
Are you talking about passing something again?
→ Use repass.
Are you talking about going through or over something again?
→ Use repass.
Are you talking about passing a law or resolution again?
→ Use repass.
Are you talking about a meal?
→ Use repast.
Are you talking about food served at a meal?
→ Use repast.
Are you writing ordinary everyday English and simply mean “meal”?
→ Meal will usually sound more natural than repast.
Mini Quiz
1. The travelers stopped for a simple ___ before continuing.
A. repass
B. repast
Answer: B — repast. A repast is a meal.
2. We had to ___ the bridge to return to the village.
A. repass
B. repast
Answer: A — repass. The verb means to pass again.
3. The committee voted to ___ the resolution.
A. repass
B. repast
Answer: A — repass. A law or resolution can be passed again.
4. The family prepared a large ___ for the guests.
A. repass
B. repast
Answer: B — repast. The word refers to a meal.
5. The runners will ___ the stadium during the final lap.
A. repass
B. repast
Answer: A — repass. They will pass the stadium again.
6. Which sentence uses the word correctly?
A. We enjoyed a delicious repass.
B. We enjoyed a delicious repast.
Answer: B — repast. The sentence is about a meal.
7. Which word is normally more natural in everyday conversation for a meal?
A. repast
B. meal
Answer: B — meal. Repast is correct but is generally more formal or literary.
FAQs
Is repass or repast correct?
Both are correct words, but they have different meanings. Repass means to pass again, while repast means a meal or food served for a meal.
What is the difference between repass and repast?
Repass is mainly a verb describing the action of passing again. Repast is mainly a noun referring to a meal.
Is repast a real word?
Yes. Repast is an established English word meaning a meal. Dictionaries generally describe it as literary or formal compared with the everyday word meal.
Does repast mean dinner?
It can refer to a dinner or another meal, but it does not specifically mean dinner. A repast can be any meal, depending on the context.
Does repass mean to pass again?
Yes. Repass can mean to pass again, pass back, or pass through/over something again. It can also be used for passing a law or resolution again.
Is repast more formal than meal?
Generally, yes. Repast has a literary or formal feel, while meal is the ordinary word used in everyday English.
Can repast be used as a verb?
Yes, but this use is uncommon or archaic. Modern English normally uses repast as a noun. Dictionaries record older or rare verb uses meaning to eat or feast.
Is repass a noun or a verb?
Repass is primarily a verb. An archaic noun use meaning a passing again is also recorded, but modern readers will normally encounter repass as a verb.
Is “funeral repast” correct?
Yes. Funeral repast is a legitimate expression referring to a meal or gathering associated with a funeral, particularly in some American usage. The meaning is supported by modern dictionary examples.
Which is correct: “a repass” or “a repast” for food?
Use a repast when referring to food or a meal. Repass does not mean a meal.
Which word should I use in everyday English: meal or repast?
Use meal in most everyday situations. Repast is correct, but it tends to sound more literary, formal, traditional, or deliberately elevated.
Final Takeaway
Repass and repast are both correct, but they mean different things.
Repass = to pass again.
Repast = a meal.
So write “We had to repass the bridge” when someone passes the bridge again, but write “We enjoyed a repast” when you mean a meal. If you are simply talking about ordinary food in everyday English, meal will usually be the more natural choice.
My name is Michael Turner, and I have always been fascinated by animals and the unique relationships people build with them. I enjoy researching naming ideas from different cultures, languages, and traditions to help pet owners discover names that truly stand out. At Meanixo, I write informative articles designed to make pet naming fun, simple, and stress-free. I believe reliable information and creativity should always go hand in hand.
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