repress

To repress is to suppress something such as a thought, feeling or emotion.

(verb)

When you keep someone from expressing any dissent, this is an example of a situation where you repress the person.
When you prevent yourself from showing your happiness, this is an example of a situation where you repress your happiness.
When you will not allow yourself to think about a given event, this is an example of a situation where you repress the event.

See repress in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb

to keep down or hold back; restrain: to repress a sigh
to put down; subdue
to control so strictly or severely as to prevent the natural development or expression of: to repress a child
Psychiatry
1. to force (ideas, impulses, etc. painful to the conscious mind) into the unconscious
2. to prevent (unconscious ideas, impulses, etc.) from reaching the level of consciousness

Origin: ME repressen < L repressus, pp. of reprimere: see re- & press

Related Forms:

See repress in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb re·pressed, re·press·ing, re·press·es

verb, transitive

To hold back by an act of volition: couldn't repress a smirk.
To put down by force, usually before total control has been lost; quell: repress a rebellion.
Psychology To exclude (painful or disturbing memories, for example) automatically or unconsciously from the conscious mind.
Biology To block (transcription of a gene) by combination of a protein to an operator gene.

verb, intransitive

To take repressive action.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English repressen

Origin: , from Latin reprimere, repress-

Origin: : re-, re-

Origin: + premere, to press; see per-⁴ in Indo-European roots

Related Forms: