re ‧ press /rɪˈpres/ BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: past participle of reprimere 'to press back' , from premere ; ⇨ ↑ press 2 ]
1 . to stop yourself from doing something you want to do:
Brenda repressed the urge to shout at him.
I repressed a smile.
2 . if someone represses upsetting feelings, memories etc, they do not allow themselves to express or think about them:
He had long ago repressed the painful memories of his childhood.
3 . to control a group of people by force ⇨ suppress , oppress :
The police were widely criticized for their role in repressing the protest movement.