recital

[ ri-sahyt-l ]

noun

1. a musical entertainment given usually by a single performer or by a performer and one or more accompanists.
2. a similar entertainment in a field other than music:

   a dance recital.

3. a program or concert by dance or music students to demonstrate their achievements or progress.
4. an act or instance of reciting.
5. a formal or public delivery of something memorized.
6. a detailed statement.
7. an account, narrative, or description:

   He gave a recital of the things he'd been doing since we'd last seen him.

recital

/ rɪˈsaɪtəl /

noun

1. a musical performance by a soloist or soloists Compare concert
2. the act of reciting or repeating something learned or prepared
3. an account, narration, or description
4. a detailed statement of facts, figures, etc
5. often plural law the preliminary statement in a deed showing the reason for its existence and leading up to and explaining the operative part

Derived Forms

• reˈcitalist, noun

Other Words From

• re·cital·ist noun
• nonre·cital noun adjective
• prere·cital noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of recital¹

First recorded in 1505–15; recite + -al ²

Synonym Study

See narrative.

Example Sentences

As an 88-key keyboard, the Recital measures 50 inches in width, which may be too large for some spaces.

From Popular-Science

There were levels and evaluations and recitals where we had to play from memory the pieces we’d learned.

From Vox

Student recitals have already been streaming on Juilliard’s website, but Juilliard Live also includes live streams and recorded performances from all departments and divisions.

From Washington Post

I always just saw Maybelline mascara in the house, and sometimes she would put it on me for recitals or auditions.

From Essence.com

They’re hosting church services, weddings, graduations, dance recitals, concerts, stand-up comedy.

From Time

It happened late in the day and captured about as much attention as a middle-school band recital.

From The Daily Beast

By age 4, Condoleezza had already given her first music recital.

From The Daily Beast

She warbled and wobbled through the recital and was greeted with thunderous applause.

From The Daily Beast

There is no fear, here—at least not of something as insignificant as a recital.

From The Daily Beast

He need not stop further study, but whatever else he learns let him at least practise this daily recital for one month.

From Project Gutenberg

He produced a watch and studied it frowningly, then dismissed us and the recital of our troubles with a ponderous gesture.

From Project Gutenberg

She eyed his crafty face narrowly, as she inquired whether there was any news, and listened to his recital of Toby Crackits story.

From Project Gutenberg

More than once the young officer would have cut short the recital, but this Havelock would not permit.

From Project Gutenberg

She is explaining a very sad “histoire” to the “type” next to her, intense in the recital of her woes.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• concert
• musical
• presentation
• reading
• recitation
• rehearsal