What is the difference between to repeat and to replicate?

Answer 1

There is quite a substantial difference between these two phrases. 'To repeat' means to do again or over. If one repeats a word, they say it twice.

'To replicate' means to make more of something. If something replicates, it increases in number - makes more of itself.

They do not mean the same thing and, if mixed up, would be completely out of context. Here is an example of each in a sentence:

'The teacher told Jimmy he would need to repeat the lines thirty times as punishment for his behaviour in class.'

'The botanist watched, entranced, as the thorns began to replicate - spreading over the stalk of the plant in a matter of seconds.'

Answer 2

To repeat means to do something again or multiple times exactly as it was done before. To replicate means to reproduce or recreate something, often with slight variations or in a different context. Essentially, repeating involves doing the same thing again, while replicating involves creating something similar.