recap
1 Americanverb (used with object)
noun
noun
verb (used with or without object)
verb
noun
-
informal recapitulation
-
another name for retread
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of recap1
First recorded in 1935–40; re- + cap 1
Origin of recap2
First recorded in 1945–50; by shortening
Explanation
To recap is to briefly explain something by giving just the main points or details. You might write a popular blog in which you recap episodes of your favorite TV shows. Some shows on television begin with a recap of the previous episode, so viewers can refresh their memories about what's happening in the story so far. A book review is sometimes nothing more than a recap of the plot. And if you miss an important meeting of your Spanish club, the secretary's minutes will recap what was discussed. Recap is a shortened form of recapitulate, "summarize," from the Latin recapitulare, "go over the main points again."
Vocabulary lists containing recap
"The Latehomecomer," Vocabulary from the memoir excerpt
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"The Latehomecomer" by Kao Kalia Yang
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The Unfinished
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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.
See Examples For:
Most folks are aware of the background of this drama, but here’s the quick recap.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 26, 2026
She now watches Owens’s show, on every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and creates recap videos on her Instagram page, which has amassed nearly 100,000 followers and is regularly reposted by Owens herself.
From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2026
This year marks the 10th anniversary of Uber's annual lost and found index, the company said, adding that it was using the opportunity to recap trends over the years.
From BBC ● Jun. 3, 2026
This is an edition of the Markets P.M. newsletter, a recap of the day’s most important markets moves, delivered after the closing bell.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 27, 2026
Treebaun progressed quickly through each student’s recap and repercussion track, and I watched a botched Kennedy assassination simulation, a Watergate mess, and a rather iffy situation involving Ben Franklin, but none of them were Elliot’s.
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
As Dobbins put it, the event was recapped on both celebrity gossip site “DeuxMoi and LinkedIn.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026
His recent visit to Vietnam was recapped on TikTok over a techno rave soundtrack.
From BBC ● May 1, 2025
Every lyric is recapped as a presumed confession, combed for autobiographical Easter eggs and compared, true crime Reddit-style, to the forensic files of her life and loves.
From Salon ● Apr. 19, 2024
If there is value in seeing these events recapped, it is in the power of seeing the parents confront Jones in court.
From New York Times ● Mar. 26, 2024
A couple of times a week, he recapped the triumphs and struggles of his life.
From "Millionaires for the Month" by Stacey McAnulty
A couple of posts later, Zach Witkoff added another message, a video recapping the “World Liberty Forum” held at Mar-a-Lago in February.
From Slate ● Jul. 22, 2026
That’s the “clear consensus” in Hollywood, MoffettNathanson analyst Robert Fishman said on Tuesday, while recapping a recent trip to meet with media executives in Los Angeles.
From Barron's ● Dec. 24, 2025
Instead, Williams is doing what he does most Sundays between September and January: recapping the game with a parody of a popular song.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 19, 2025
But his speech on Sunday avoided that issue entirely, instead recapping his election victory and hitting on themes – including immigration, crime and foreign trade – that were mainstays of his campaign.
From BBC ● Dec. 22, 2024
It was late that night when Katherine and Jimmy tucked the girls into their beds and collapsed onto their own bed, but they stayed up even later laughing and gossiping, recapping the family gathering.
From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
