reprise

/rəˈpriz/

/rɪˈpraɪz/

Other forms: reprising; reprises; reprised

Reprise means "repeat an earlier role." If you’re asked to reprise your role as "kid entertainer" at the annual family reunion, that means people want you to do it again this year.

Early on, reprise was a part in a song or other musical composition that is repeated. The word still carries that meaning, but now it's more likely to be used as a verb to describe an action or part that is repeated, often a performance. For example, if you played a role in a wildly successful film that is going to have a sequel, you would reprise your role. The word comes from the French word repris, meaning "take back."

Definitions of reprise

1. noun

   a repetition of a short musical passage
   type of:

   musical passage, passage

   a short section of a musical composition
2. noun

   the repetition within a musical or other work of a song that was previously performed
   type of:

   music

   an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
3. noun

   the act of performing a role again
   type of:

   performance

   the act of presenting a play or a piece of music or other entertainment
4. noun

   the repetition or resumption of some action
   type of:

   repeating, repetition

   the act of doing or performing again
5. verb

   repeat an earlier theme of a song or composition
   synonyms: recapitulate, repeat, reprize

   type of:

   play, spiel

   replay (as a melody)
6. verb

   play a role again; repeat a performance
   type of:

   act, play, represent

   play a role or part
7. verb

   repeat, renew, or resume some action
   type of:

   repeat, take over

   do over