replete

adjective

re·​plete ri-ˈplēt 

1

: fully or abundantly provided or filled

… a book replete with … delicious details …

—William Safire

2

a

: abundantly fed

b

: fat, stout

3

: complete

repleteness noun

Did you know?

It’s no coincidence that replete and complete are close in meaning. Both words come from the Latin verb plēre, meaning "to fill," and both indicate that something contains all that is wanted, needed, or possible. There are some subtle differences in usage, however. Complete applies when all that is needed is present ("a complete picture of the situation"), whereas replete is the synonym of choice when fullness is accompanied by a sense of satiety ("the buffet was replete with dishes from all over the world"). Etymology fans may be interested to know that the list of plēre descendants doesn't end with these two; English is in fact replete with them. Some other words supplied by this Latin verb include deplete, expletive, implement, and supply.

Synonyms of replete

• plump
• full
• round
• fat

Choose the Right Synonym for replete

full, complete, plenary, replete mean containing all that is wanted or needed or possible.

full implies the presence or inclusion of everything that is wanted or required by something or that can be held, contained, or attained by it.

a full schedule

complete applies when all that is needed is present.

a complete picture of the situation

plenary adds to complete the implication of fullness without qualification.

given plenary power

replete implies being filled to the brim or to satiety.

replete with delightful details

Examples of replete in a Sentence

The book is replete with photographs.

The country's history is replete with stories of people who became successful by working hard.

Recent Examples on the Web

But the Padres’ third victory in 14 games was replete with reminders of the team’s biggest problems. —Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2026

The four-wheeler is also replete with sentimental touches. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 8 June 2026

All were excellent stagings and every single one of them was replete with exciting new ideas. —Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 7 June 2026

The galleries, replete with slogans, rainbows, and photos of activists, narrate the prehistory of the 44th president, as if the whole trajectory of the civil-rights movements pointed to his election. —Justin Davidson, Curbed, 4 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English replet, replete, repleet "filled (with), filled with food or drink, sated, having an excess of humors," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French replet "filled," borrowed from Latin replētus "full (of), fully endowed (with)," from past participle of replēre "to make full again, replenish, restore, fill up, sate," from re- re- + plēre "to fill" — more at full entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for replete

• amit
• athlete
• backseat
• blackfeet
• broadsheet
• browbeat
• buckwheat
• compete
• compleat
• complete
• conceit
• concrete

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Kids Definition

replete

adjective

re·​plete ri-ˈplēt 

1

: fully or well provided or filled

a book replete with illustrations

2

: well fed

repleteness noun