Replay means to play something again, usually to watch, hear, or experience it a second (or third, or fourth) time. When your favorite song ends, you might hit replay to hear it again. Sports fans watch replays of incredible catches or game-winning goals, often in slow motion to catch every detail they missed the first time.

In sports, an instant replay lets referees review a close call on video to make sure they got the decision right. This technology has changed how games are officiated: instead of relying only on what they saw in real time, officials can replay the action from multiple angles. A controversial call might be overturned on replay if the video shows something different from what the referee initially thought.

Video games use replay differently: you might replay a level you failed, trying a new strategy to beat it. Streaming services let you replay episodes you loved or replay a scene you didn't quite catch.

The word can also be a noun: “Let's watch the replay of that touchdown.” Sometimes people use it figuratively, like when the same argument keeps happening and someone says, “This feels like a replay of last week's fight.”