recollect
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to recall to mind; recover knowledge of by memory; remember.
- Antonyms:
- forget
-
to absorb (oneself ) in spiritual meditation, especially during prayer.
verb (used without object)
verb
Synonym Usage
See remember.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
recollectiveadjective
-
misrecollectverb
-
recollectivenessnoun
-
nonrecollectiveadjective
-
unrecollectiveadjective
-
recollectivelyadverb
-
self-recollectiveadjective
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
have recollectedperfect
-
has recollectedperfect 3rd person singular
-
has been recollectingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
recollectssingular 3rd person
-
have been recollectingperfect progressive
-
are recollectingprogressive
-
recollectingparticiple
-
am recollectingprogressive 1st person singular
-
is recollectingprogressive 3rd person singular
Past
-
had recollectedperfect
-
recollectedsimple
-
were recollectingprogressive plural
-
had been recollectingperfect progressive
-
was recollectingprogressive singular
-
recollectedparticiple
Future
Etymology
Origin of recollect
First recorded in 1550–60; from Medieval Latin recollēctus, past participle of recolligere “to remember, recollect” ( Latin: “to gather up again”); see re-, collect 1
Explanation
To recollect is to remember. You might struggle to recollect your high school French but have no trouble recollecting every ingredient in your dad's cinnamon roll recipe. If you ask your grandfather to recollect his experiences in high school, you want him to remember some great stories from his youth. The Latin root word, recolligere, means "to collect again," from the prefix re, "again," and colligere, "gather or collect." You can think of recollect as meaning "to gather again from your memory."
Vocabulary lists containing recollect
"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Chapters 16–19
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Unit 2: Pivotal Words and Phrases
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Vocabulary: A Rapper's Delight!
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
We made a registry to allow our friends and family to help us recollect the basics.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 11, 2026
Those are words that penetrate, ones that recollect certain names and call forth our senses.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 10, 2026
I recollect that my mother left her jewelry box and its contents to me.
From MarketWatch • Dec. 4, 2025
While aphantasics think about memories, other people are able to recollect and live those memories.
From BBC • Mar. 30, 2024
It was a snowy day, I recollect, and you could not go out of doors.
From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
