diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index a753fb9e7421d..9f0a90b405e19 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -73,6 +73,11 @@ Standard library changes
 * The performance of `rand(::Tuple)` is improved in some cases ([#32208]). As a consequence, the
   stream of generated values produced for a given seed has changed.
 
+#### REPL
+
+* The attributes of the implicit `IOContext` used by the REPL to display objects can be
+  modified by the user (experimental feature) ([#29249]).
+
 #### SparseArrays
 
 #### Dates
diff --git a/stdlib/REPL/docs/src/index.md b/stdlib/REPL/docs/src/index.md
index 689bb537fc3a9..a3532a42d5af5 100644
--- a/stdlib/REPL/docs/src/index.md
+++ b/stdlib/REPL/docs/src/index.md
@@ -52,6 +52,38 @@ If it is enabled, you can try it out by pasting the code block above this paragr
 the REPL. This feature does not work on the standard Windows command prompt due to its limitation
 at detecting when a paste occurs.
 
+Objects are printed at the REPL using the [`show`](@ref) function with a specific [`IOContext`](@ref).
+In particular, the `:limit` attribute is set to `true`.
+Other attributes can receive in certain `show` methods a default value if it's not already set,
+like `:compact`.
+It's possible, as an experimental feature, to specify the attributes used by the REPL via the
+`Base.active_repl.options.iocontext` dictionary (associating values to attributes). For example:
+
+```julia-repl
+julia> rand(2, 2)
+2×2 Array{Float64,2}:
+ 0.8833    0.329197
+ 0.719708  0.59114
+
+julia> show(IOContext(stdout, :compact => false), "text/plain", rand(2, 2))
+ 0.43540323669187075  0.15759787870609387
+ 0.2540832269192739   0.4597637838786053
+julia> Base.active_repl.options.iocontext[:compact] = false;
+
+julia> rand(2, 2)
+2×2 Array{Float64,2}:
+ 0.2083967319174056  0.13330606013126012
+ 0.6244375177790158  0.9777957560761545
+```
+
+In order to define automatically the values of this dictionary at startup time, one can use the
+[`atreplinit`](@ref) function in the `~/.julia/config/startup.jl` file, for example:
+```julia
+atreplinit() do repl
+    repl.options.iocontext[:compact] = false
+end
+```
+
 ### Help mode
 
 When the cursor is at the beginning of the line, the prompt can be changed to a help mode by typing
@@ -176,7 +208,6 @@ to do so), or pressing Esc and then the key.
 | `meta-Right Arrow`  | indent the current line on the right                                                                       |
 | `meta-.`            | insert last word from previous history entry                                                               |
 
-
 ### Customizing keybindings
 
 Julia's REPL keybindings may be fully customized to a user's preferences by passing a dictionary
diff --git a/stdlib/REPL/src/REPL.jl b/stdlib/REPL/src/REPL.jl
index 92cba45589e14..514ce37c14400 100644
--- a/stdlib/REPL/src/REPL.jl
+++ b/stdlib/REPL/src/REPL.jl
@@ -129,7 +129,12 @@ end
 function display(d::REPLDisplay, mime::MIME"text/plain", x)
     io = outstream(d.repl)
     get(io, :color, false) && write(io, answer_color(d.repl))
-    show(IOContext(io, :limit => true, :module => Main), mime, x)
+    if isdefined(d.repl, :options) && isdefined(d.repl.options, :iocontext)
+        # this can override the :limit property set initially
+        io = foldl(IOContext, d.repl.options.iocontext,
+                   init=IOContext(io, :limit => true, :module => Main))
+    end
+    show(io, mime, x)
     println(io)
     nothing
 end
@@ -283,6 +288,8 @@ mutable struct Options
     auto_indent_bracketed_paste::Bool # set to true if terminal knows paste mode
     # cancel auto-indent when next character is entered within this time frame :
     auto_indent_time_threshold::Float64
+    # default IOContext settings at the REPL
+    iocontext::Dict{Symbol,Any}
 end
 
 Options(;
@@ -299,13 +306,16 @@ Options(;
         auto_indent = true,
         auto_indent_tmp_off = false,
         auto_indent_bracketed_paste = false,
-        auto_indent_time_threshold = 0.005) =
+        auto_indent_time_threshold = 0.005,
+        iocontext = Dict{Symbol,Any}()) =
             Options(hascolor, extra_keymap, tabwidth,
                     kill_ring_max, region_animation_duration,
                     beep_duration, beep_blink, beep_maxduration,
                     beep_colors, beep_use_current,
                     backspace_align, backspace_adjust, confirm_exit,
-                    auto_indent, auto_indent_tmp_off, auto_indent_bracketed_paste, auto_indent_time_threshold)
+                    auto_indent, auto_indent_tmp_off, auto_indent_bracketed_paste,
+                    auto_indent_time_threshold,
+                    iocontext)
 
 # for use by REPLs not having an options field
 const GlobalOptions = Options()