Have it rebroadcast as emergency P.A. vs Relay vs Repeat

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Have it rebroadcast as emergency P.A.

FormalBeyond 10,000 (less common)

Relay

Top 2,000 (common)

Repeat

Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Most formal: Have it rebroadcast as emergency P.A.Most common: Repeat
 Have it rebroadcast as emergency P.A.RelayRepeat
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //hæv ɪt ˈriːˌbrɔːd.kæst æz ɪˈmɜː.dʒən.si p.iː eɪ//🇺🇸 //hæv ɪt ˈriːˌbrɔːd.kæst æz ɪˈmɜːr.dʒən.si p.iː eɪ//🇬🇧 //rɪˈleɪ//🇺🇸 //rɪˈleɪ//🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈpiːt/","/rɪˈpiːts/","/rɪˈpiːtɪd/","/rɪˈpiːtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈpiːt/","/rɪˈpiːts/","/rɪˈpiːtɪd/","/rɪˈpiːtɪŋ/"]/
MeaningTo show something again as an emergency announcement.A race where teams take turns running, or passing something.To say or do something again.
ExampleThey decided to have it rebroadcast as emergency P.A. due to the severity of the situation.The relay team won the competition.Please repeat the instructions so everyone understands.
RegisterFormalNeutralNeutral
How commonBeyond 10,000 (less common)Top 2,000 (common)Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level--A1
Part of speechverb
Collocationsemergency announcement, public address system, retransmit message, urgent newsrelay race, relay information, relay team, relay baton, relay stationjust, merely, simply, can only, be necessary to, need to, after, to, keep repeating somebody/​something, just, merely, simply, can only, be necessary to, need to, after, to, keep repeating somebody/​something, just, merely, simply, can only, be necessary to, need to, after, to, keep repeating somebody/​something, just, merely, simply, can only, be necessary to, need to, after, to, keep repeating somebody/​something, just, merely, simply, can only, be necessary to, need to, after, to, keep repeating somebody/​something
Antonyms--stop, ignore, forget
Common mistakesSaying 'have it rebroadcasted' instead of 'rebroadcast', Using 'broadcast' instead of 'rebroadcast' for previous broadcasts, Confusing with 'rebroadcast' as a noun, when it is a verb in this context.Confused with 'release' which has a different meaning., Using 'relay' as a noun and forgetting it's also a verb.Confused with 'replay' (for videos), Using 'repeated' instead of 'repeat' when requesting action, Misplacing the object, e.g., 'repeat me' instead of 'repeat this'
Usage notesUse in emergency contexts when referring to announcements. It’s more formal and appropriate for official settings, less common in casual speech.Common in sports contexts; can also refer to passing information. Suitable for all audiences.Use 'repeat' when asking someone to say something again. It's generally neutral and appropriate in most contexts, but avoid using in very formal writing.

See it in real clips

Have it rebroadcast as emergency P.A.
Repeat

Frequently asked questions: Have it rebroadcast as emergency P.A. vs Relay vs Repeat

What's the difference between Have it rebroadcast as emergency P.A., Relay, and Repeat?

Have it rebroadcast as emergency P.A.: To show something again as an emergency announcement. Relay: A race where teams take turns running, or passing something. Repeat: To say or do something again.

Which is more formal: Have it rebroadcast as emergency P.A., Relay, and Repeat?

Have it rebroadcast as emergency P.A. is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Have it rebroadcast as emergency P.A., Relay, and Repeat?

Repeat is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Have it rebroadcast as emergency P.A.: They decided to have it rebroadcast as emergency P.A. due to the severity of the situation. Relay: The relay team won the competition. Repeat: Please repeat the instructions so everyone understands.

Can I use Have it rebroadcast as emergency P.A., Relay, and Repeat interchangeably?

Not always. Have it rebroadcast as emergency P.A., Relay, and Repeat are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.