rappel

verb

rap·​pel rə-ˈpel 

ra-

rappelled also rappeled; rappelling also rappeling

intransitive verb

: to descend (as from a cliff) by sliding down a rope passed under one thigh, across the body, and over the opposite shoulder or through a special friction device

rappel noun

Examples of rappel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Williams fled the apartment, evading the officer by rappelling out of a window. —Ronan Farrow, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2025

Grand Canyon Lopes Thunder the Antelope seemingly can do it all, posing for photos with Grand Canyon University fans, rappelling to the arena floor from the ceiling and jumping off a trampoline to dunk a basketball. —John Raby, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2025

Rock climbing, scrambling, and rappelling over a long summit day is required to tag the top of this classic. —Sean McNally, Outdoor Life, 13 Mar. 2025

Hockey Justin Trudeau Taunts Donald Trump After Canada's Hockey Triumph Six demonstrators rigged ropes at the top of El Capitan and rappelled down its face to unfurl the flag, the Chronicle reported. —Mark Joseph, Newsweek, 24 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, recall, from Old French rapel, from rapeler to recall, from re- + apeler to appeal, call — more at appeal

First Known Use

1944, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for rappel

• appal
• apple
• chapel
• dapple
• grapple
• pineapple

Kids Definition

rappel

verb

rap·​pel rə-ˈpel 

ra-

rappelled also rappeled; rappelling also rappeling

: to descend (as from a cliff) by sliding down a rope