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Synonyms

recap

1 American  
[ree-kap, ree-kap, ree-kap] / ˈriˌkæp, riˈkæp, ˈriˌkæp /

verb (used with object)

recapped, recapping

  1. to recondition (a worn automobile tire) by cementing on a strip of prepared rubber and vulcanizing by subjecting to heat and pressure in a mold.

noun

  1. a recapped tire.

recap 2 American  
[ree-kap] / ˈriˌkæp /

noun

  1. a recapitulation.

verb (used with or without object)

recapped, recapping

  1. to recapitulate.

recap British  

verb

  1. informal short for recapitulate

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. informal recapitulation

  2. another name for retread

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • recappable adjective

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."

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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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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.

In January, he went to London for two days and posted a recap video on TikTok that received more than 1.5 million likes.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

First a quick recap of why memory-chips are the hot AI play.

From Barron's • Feb. 23, 2026

For a recap of the day when the markets close, sign up for Markets P.M.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026

Chances are your host will be looking forward to seeing you and hearing your news, and a 20-minute recap of your flight and taxi ride should not be part of that bulletin.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 17, 2026

So what if this was my third recap this week?

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

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.