Real Dictionary

repress
verb: If a section of society is repressed, their freedom is restricted by the people who have authority over them.
verb: If you repress a feeling, you make a deliberate effort not to show or have this feeling.
verb: If you repress a smile, sigh, or moan, you try hard not to smile, sigh, or moan.

repress in American English
to keep down or hold back; restrain
intransitive verb: to initiate or undergo repression
transitive verb: to keep under control, check, or suppress (desires, feelings, actions, tears, etc.)

repress in British English
to keep (feelings, etc) under control; suppress or restrain