diff --git a/mercurial/commands.py b/mercurial/commands.py
--- a/mercurial/commands.py
+++ b/mercurial/commands.py
@@ -2822,8 +2822,8 @@ def unbundle(ui, repo, fname1, *fnames, 
 def update(ui, repo, node=None, rev=None, clean=False, date=None):
     """update working directory
 
-    Update the working directory to the specified revision, or the
-    tip of the current branch if none is specified.
+    Update the repository's working directory to the specified revision,
+    or the tip of the current branch if none is specified.
 
     If the requested revision is a descendant of the working
     directory, any outstanding changes in the working directory will