Epizeuxis examples

Use back-to-back repetition to stress a feeling, from joy to urgency.

Featured example

Breathe, breathe, breathe. The interview starts in five minutes.

A friend calms someone just before a job interview.

Three copies of “breathe” sit side by side, so the calming instruction lands slowly and firmly.

In plain words: They should settle their nerves before it starts.

Thank you, thank you. This evening only happened because of our volunteers.
- “Thank you” repeated twice, back to back
A club chair opens her end-of-year speech.
Why it works
“Thank you” repeats straight away, so her gratitude sounds heartfelt before she names who earned it.
Push me higher, higher, higher, higher!
- “Higher” repeated four times, back to back
A child on a swing calls to the parent pushing.
Why it works
Four copies of “higher” in a row still make one run of epizeuxis, and the longer run makes the request more eager.
Please, please let the parcel be there.
- “Please” repeated twice, back to back
Someone speaking to themselves while opening a cupboard.
Why it works
“Please” comes twice in a row, so the hope sounds stronger.
In this kitchen, the rule is simple: label it, label it, label it.
- “Label it” repeated three times, back to back
A volunteer briefs new helpers at a community café.
Why it works
The phrase “label it” repeats three times with nothing between, so the one rule sticks. Three copies of one phrase are epizeuxis, not a three-part list.

Go to the door. Go to the window.
An instructor directs two checks.
What to notice
“Go to the” opens both commands, with different words after each. That is anaphora, not immediate repetition.
I wanted a break; everyone wanted a break.
A narrator describes a shared need.
What to notice
“Wanted a break” repeats at the ends of two clauses, not immediately.