diff --git a/library/data/rbtree/basic.lean b/library/data/rbtree/basic.lean
index 943f15c882..166a69f5ad 100644
--- a/library/data/rbtree/basic.lean
+++ b/library/data/rbtree/basic.lean
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ namespace tactic
 namespace interactive
 
 meta def blast_disjs : tactic unit :=
-focus1 $ repeat $ any_goals $ any_hyp $ λ h, do
+focus1 $ iterate $ any_goals $ any_hyp $ λ h, do
   t ← infer_type h,
   guard (t.is_or ≠ none),
   tactic.cases h [h.local_pp_name, h.local_pp_name]
@@ -50,13 +50,13 @@ meta def is_searchable_constructor_app : expr → bool
 | _                                         := ff
 
 meta def apply_is_searchable_constructors : tactic unit :=
-repeat $ any_goals $ do
+iterate $ any_goals $ do
   t ← target,
   guard $ is_searchable_constructor_app t,
   constructor
 
 meta def destruct_is_searchable_hyps : tactic unit :=
-repeat $ any_goals $ any_hyp $ λ h, do
+iterate $ any_goals $ any_hyp $ λ h, do
   t ← infer_type h,
   guard $ is_searchable_constructor_app t,
   cases h,
diff --git a/library/data/rbtree/insert.lean b/library/data/rbtree/insert.lean
index 4e7185b688..9bdd2906d3 100644
--- a/library/data/rbtree/insert.lean
+++ b/library/data/rbtree/insert.lean
@@ -657,10 +657,10 @@ inductive is_bad_red_black : rbnode α → nat → Prop
 | bad_red   {c₁ c₂ n l r v} (rb_l : is_red_black l c₁ n) (rb_r : is_red_black r c₂ n) : is_bad_red_black (red_node l v r) n
 
 lemma balance1_rb {l r t : rbnode α} {y v : α} {c_l c_r c_t n} : is_red_black l c_l n → is_red_black r c_r n → is_red_black t c_t n → ∃ c, is_red_black (balance1 l y r v t) c (succ n) :=
-by intros h₁ h₂ h₃; cases h₁; cases h₂; repeat {assumption <|> constructor}
+by intros h₁ h₂ h₃; cases h₁; cases h₂; iterate {assumption <|> constructor}
 
 lemma balance2_rb {l r t : rbnode α} {y v : α} {c_l c_r c_t n} : is_red_black l c_l n → is_red_black r c_r n → is_red_black t c_t n → ∃ c, is_red_black (balance2 l y r v t) c (succ n) :=
-by intros h₁ h₂ h₃; cases h₁; cases h₂; repeat {assumption <|> constructor}
+by intros h₁ h₂ h₃; cases h₁; cases h₂; iterate {assumption <|> constructor}
 
 lemma balance1_node_rb {t s : rbnode α} {y : α} {c n} : is_bad_red_black t n → is_red_black s c n → ∃ c, is_red_black (balance1_node t y s) c (succ n) :=
 by intros h _; cases h; simp [balance1_node]; apply balance1_rb; assumption'
@@ -685,7 +685,7 @@ variable (lt)
 lemma ins_rb {t : rbnode α} (x) : ∀ {c n} (h : is_red_black t c n), ins_rb_result (ins lt t x) c n :=
 begin
   apply ins.induction lt t x; intros; cases h; simp [ins, *, ins_rb_result],
-  { repeat { constructor } },
+  { iterate { constructor } },
   { specialize ih rb_l, cases ih, constructor, assumption' },
   { constructor, assumption' },
   { specialize ih rb_r, cases ih, constructor, assumption' },
diff --git a/library/data/stream.lean b/library/data/stream.lean
index 032643cf03..fa2fee604f 100644
--- a/library/data/stream.lean
+++ b/library/data/stream.lean
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ def drop (n : nat) (s : stream α) : stream α :=
 s n
 
 protected theorem eta (s : stream α) : head s :: tail s = s :=
-funext (λ i, begin cases i, repeat {refl} end)
+funext (λ i, begin cases i; refl end)
 
 theorem nth_zero_cons (a : α) (s : stream α) : nth 0 (a :: s) = a := rfl
 
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ exists.intro 0 rfl
 theorem const_eq (a : α) : const a = a :: const a :=
 begin
   apply stream.ext, intro n,
-  cases n, repeat {refl}
+  cases n; refl
 end
 
 theorem tail_const (a : α) : tail (const a) = const a :=
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ assume hh ht₁ ht₂, eq_of_bisim
   (λ s₁ s₂, head s₁ = head s₂ ∧ s₁ = tail s₁ ∧ s₂ = tail s₂)
   (λ s₁ s₂ ⟨h₁, h₂, h₃⟩,
     begin
-      constructor, exact h₁, rw [← h₂, ← h₃], repeat {constructor, repeat {assumption}}
+      constructor, exact h₁, rw [← h₂, ← h₃], iterate { constructor, iterate { assumption } }
     end)
   (and.intro hh (and.intro ht₁ ht₂))
 
diff --git a/library/init/algebra/functions.lean b/library/init/algebra/functions.lean
index 71ca481a22..1795b9841a 100644
--- a/library/init/algebra/functions.lean
+++ b/library/init/algebra/functions.lean
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ solve1 $ intros
 >> try `[apply le_of_not_le, assumption]
 
 meta def tactic.interactive.min_tac (a b : interactive.parse lean.parser.pexpr) : tactic unit :=
-`[by_cases (%%a ≤ %%b), repeat {min_tac_step}]
+`[by_cases (%%a ≤ %%b), iterate {min_tac_step}]
 
 lemma min_le_left (a b : α) : min a b ≤ a :=
 by min_tac a b
@@ -451,10 +451,10 @@ lemma abs_abs_sub_abs_le_abs_sub (a b : α) : abs (abs a - abs b) ≤ abs (a - b
 begin
    apply nonneg_le_nonneg_of_squares_le,
    apply abs_nonneg,
-   repeat {rw abs_sub_square},
-   repeat {rw abs_mul_abs_self},
+   iterate {rw abs_sub_square},
+   iterate {rw abs_mul_abs_self},
    apply sub_le_sub_left,
-   repeat {rw mul_assoc},
+   iterate {rw mul_assoc},
    apply mul_le_mul_of_nonneg_left,
    rw [← abs_mul],
    apply le_abs_self,
diff --git a/library/init/data/int/order.lean b/library/init/data/int/order.lean
index 0a86b0c515..115813b37e 100644
--- a/library/init/data/int/order.lean
+++ b/library/init/data/int/order.lean
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ iff.mpr (int.lt_iff_le_and_ne _ _)
 protected lemma mul_nonneg {a b : ℤ} (ha : 0 ≤ a) (hb : 0 ≤ b) : 0 ≤ a * b :=
 le.elim ha (assume n, assume hn,
 le.elim hb (assume m, assume hm,
-  le.intro (show 0 + ↑n * ↑m = a * b, begin rw [← hn, ← hm], repeat {rw zero_add} end)))
+  le.intro (show 0 + ↑n * ↑m = a * b, begin rw [← hn, ← hm], simp [zero_add] end)))
 
 protected lemma mul_pos {a b : ℤ} (ha : 0 < a) (hb : 0 < b) : 0 < a * b :=
 lt.elim ha (assume n, assume hn,
diff --git a/library/init/data/nat/lemmas.lean b/library/init/data/nat/lemmas.lean
index dca3f2c74e..2638dc834b 100644
--- a/library/init/data/nat/lemmas.lean
+++ b/library/init/data/nat/lemmas.lean
@@ -428,7 +428,7 @@ protected lemma bit0_inj : ∀ {n m : ℕ}, bit0 n = bit0 m → n = m
 | (n+1) (m+1) h :=
   have succ (succ (n + n)) = succ (succ (m + m)),
   begin unfold bit0 at h, simp [add_one, add_succ, succ_add] at h, exact h end,
-  have n + n = m + m, by repeat {injection this with this},
+  have n + n = m + m, by iterate { injection this with this },
   have n = m, from bit0_inj this,
   by rw this
 
diff --git a/library/init/meta/coinductive_predicates.lean b/library/init/meta/coinductive_predicates.lean
index 782de855f4..43de616af7 100644
--- a/library/init/meta/coinductive_predicates.lean
+++ b/library/init/meta/coinductive_predicates.lean
@@ -526,7 +526,7 @@ meta def add_coinductive_predicate
                 (eqs ++ [eq']).mmap' subst
               else skip,
               eapply ((const r.func_nm u_params).app_of_list $ ps ++ fs),
-              repeat assumption)
+              iterate assumption)
           end),
         exact h)),
 
@@ -588,7 +588,7 @@ do
   solve1 (do
     target >>= instantiate_mvars >>= change, -- TODO: bug in existsi & constructor when mvars in hyptohesis
     bs.mmap existsi,
-    repeat econstructor),
+    iterate econstructor),
 
   -- clean up remaining coinduction steps
   all_goals (do
diff --git a/library/init/meta/converter/conv.lean b/library/init/meta/converter/conv.lean
index a03442bc1d..ab721975e7 100644
--- a/library/init/meta/converter/conv.lean
+++ b/library/init/meta/converter/conv.lean
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ do (r, lhs, rhs) ← target_lhs_rhs,
    return ()
 
 meta def funext : conv unit :=
-repeat $ do
+iterate $ do
   (r, lhs, rhs) ← target_lhs_rhs,
   guard (r = `eq),
   (expr.lam n _ _ _) ← return lhs,
diff --git a/library/init/meta/interactive.lean b/library/init/meta/interactive.lean
index b47dd99ca9..694f024aeb 100644
--- a/library/init/meta/interactive.lean
+++ b/library/init/meta/interactive.lean
@@ -599,10 +599,10 @@ meta def contradiction : tactic unit :=
 tactic.contradiction
 
 /--
-`repeat { t }` repeatedly applies tactic `t` until `t` fails. The compound tactic always succeeds.
+`iterate { t }` repeatedly applies tactic `t` until `t` fails. The compound tactic always succeeds.
 -/
-meta def repeat : itactic → tactic unit :=
-tactic.repeat
+meta def iterate : itactic → tactic unit :=
+tactic.iterate
 
 /--
 `try { t }` tries to apply tactic `t`, but succeeds whether or not `t` succeeds.
diff --git a/library/init/meta/relation_tactics.lean b/library/init/meta/relation_tactics.lean
index 4d66c9ce67..8da8a8155e 100644
--- a/library/init/meta/relation_tactics.lean
+++ b/library/init/meta/relation_tactics.lean
@@ -42,6 +42,6 @@ target >>= relation_lhs_rhs
 
 /-- Try to apply subst exhaustively -/
 meta def subst_vars : tactic unit :=
-focus1 $ repeat (any_hyp subst) >> try (reflexivity reducible)
+focus1 $ iterate (any_hyp subst) >> try (reflexivity reducible)
 
 end tactic
diff --git a/library/init/meta/smt/interactive.lean b/library/init/meta/smt/interactive.lean
index 2b38ffb230..a8dd5a2ea4 100644
--- a/library/init/meta/smt/interactive.lean
+++ b/library/init/meta/smt/interactive.lean
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ meta def skip : smt_tactic unit :=
 return ()
 
 meta def solve_goals : smt_tactic unit :=
-repeat close
+iterate close
 
 meta def step {α : Type} (tac : smt_tactic α) : smt_tactic unit :=
 tac >> solve_goals
@@ -222,8 +222,8 @@ meta def try (t : itactic) : smt_tactic unit :=
 smt_tactic.try t
 
 /-- Keep applying the given tactic until it fails. -/
-meta def repeat (t : itactic) : smt_tactic unit :=
-smt_tactic.repeat t
+meta def iterate (t : itactic) : smt_tactic unit :=
+smt_tactic.iterate t
 
 /-- Apply the given tactic to all remaining goals. -/
 meta def all_goals (t : itactic) : smt_tactic unit :=
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ smt_tactic.eblast
 /-- Keep applying heuristic instantiation using the given lemmas until the current goal is solved, or it fails. -/
 meta def eblast_using (l : parse pexpr_list_or_texpr) : smt_tactic unit :=
 do hs ← add_hinst_lemmas_from_pexprs reducible ff l hinst_lemmas.mk,
-   smt_tactic.repeat (smt_tactic.ematch_using hs >> smt_tactic.try smt_tactic.close)
+   smt_tactic.iterate (smt_tactic.ematch_using hs >> smt_tactic.try smt_tactic.close)
 
 meta def guard_expr_eq (t : expr) (p : parse $ tk ":=" *> texpr) : smt_tactic unit :=
 do e ← to_expr p, guard (expr.alpha_eqv t e)
diff --git a/library/init/meta/smt/rsimp.lean b/library/init/meta/smt/rsimp.lean
index 814e976ead..c7d555b847 100644
--- a/library/init/meta/smt/rsimp.lean
+++ b/library/init/meta/smt/rsimp.lean
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ do focus1 $ using_smt_with {em_attr := cfg.attr_name} $
    do
      add_lemmas_from_facts,
      add_lemmas extra,
-     repeat_at_most cfg.max_rounds (ematch >> try smt_tactic.close),
+     iterate_at_most cfg.max_rounds (ematch >> try smt_tactic.close),
      (done >> return cc_state.mk)
      <|>
      to_cc_state
diff --git a/library/init/meta/smt/smt_tactic.lean b/library/init/meta/smt/smt_tactic.lean
index 1f6473bb51..d79914b2b2 100644
--- a/library/init/meta/smt/smt_tactic.lean
+++ b/library/init/meta/smt/smt_tactic.lean
@@ -155,21 +155,21 @@ meta def try {α : Type} (t : smt_tactic α) : smt_tactic unit :=
  (λ ⟨a, new_ss⟩, result.success ((), new_ss))
  (λ e ref s', result.success ((), ss) ts)
 
-/-- `repeat_at_most n t`: repeat the given tactic at most n times or until t fails -/
-meta def repeat_at_most : nat → smt_tactic unit → smt_tactic unit
+/-- `iterate_at_most n t`: repeat the given tactic at most n times or until t fails -/
+meta def iterate_at_most : nat → smt_tactic unit → smt_tactic unit
 | 0     t := return ()
-| (n+1) t := (do t, repeat_at_most n t) <|> return ()
+| (n+1) t := (do t, iterate_at_most n t) <|> return ()
 
-/-- `repeat_exactly n t` : execute t n times -/
-meta def repeat_exactly : nat → smt_tactic unit → smt_tactic unit
+/-- `iterate_exactly n t` : execute t n times -/
+meta def iterate_exactly : nat → smt_tactic unit → smt_tactic unit
 | 0     t := return ()
-| (n+1) t := do t, repeat_exactly n t
+| (n+1) t := do t, iterate_exactly n t
 
-meta def repeat : smt_tactic unit → smt_tactic unit :=
-repeat_at_most 100000
+meta def iterate : smt_tactic unit → smt_tactic unit :=
+iterate_at_most 100000
 
 meta def eblast : smt_tactic unit :=
-repeat (ematch >> try close)
+iterate (ematch >> try close)
 
 open tactic
 
@@ -404,7 +404,7 @@ open smt_tactic
 
 meta def using_smt {α} (t : smt_tactic α) (cfg : smt_config := {}) : tactic α :=
 do ss ← smt_state.mk cfg,
-   (a, _) ← (do a ← t, repeat close, return a) ss,
+   (a, _) ← (do a ← t, iterate close, return a) ss,
    return a
 
 meta def using_smt_with {α} (cfg : smt_config) (t : smt_tactic α) : tactic α :=
diff --git a/library/init/meta/tactic.lean b/library/init/meta/tactic.lean
index 3f9069e4be..3bb6c2d9ba 100644
--- a/library/init/meta/tactic.lean
+++ b/library/init/meta/tactic.lean
@@ -114,18 +114,18 @@ meta def success_if_fail {α : Type u} (t : tactic α) : tactic unit :=
 end
 
 open nat
-/-- (repeat_at_most n t): repeat the given tactic at most n times or until t fails -/
-meta def repeat_at_most : nat → tactic unit → tactic unit
+/-- (iterate_at_most n t): repeat the given tactic at most n times or until t fails -/
+meta def iterate_at_most : nat → tactic unit → tactic unit
 | 0        t := skip
-| (succ n) t := (do t, repeat_at_most n t) <|> skip
+| (succ n) t := (do t, iterate_at_most n t) <|> skip
 
-/-- (repeat_exactly n t) : execute t n times -/
-meta def repeat_exactly : nat → tactic unit → tactic unit
+/-- (iterate_exactly n t) : execute t n times -/
+meta def iterate_exactly : nat → tactic unit → tactic unit
 | 0        t := skip
-| (succ n) t := do t, repeat_exactly n t
+| (succ n) t := do t, iterate_exactly n t
 
-meta def repeat : tactic unit → tactic unit :=
-repeat_at_most 100000
+meta def iterate : tactic unit → tactic unit :=
+iterate_at_most 100000
 
 meta def returnopt (e : option α) : tactic α :=
 λ s, match e with