recite
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
-
to recite a lesson or part of a lesson for a teacher.
-
to recite or repeat something from memory.
verb
-
to repeat (a poem, passage, etc) aloud from memory before an audience, teacher, etc
-
(tr) to give a detailed account of
-
(tr) to enumerate (examples, etc)
Synonym Usage
See relate.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
recitesimple
-
recitessimple
-
have recitedperfect
-
has recitedperfect
-
am recitingprogressive
-
are recitingprogressive
-
is recitingprogressive
-
have been recitingperfect progressive
-
has been recitingperfect progressive
Past
-
recitedsimple
-
had recitedperfect
-
was recitingprogressive
-
were recitingprogressive
-
had been recitingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of recite
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English reciten, from Latin recitāre “to read aloud,” equivalent to re- + citāre “to summon”; see origin at re-, cite 1
Explanation
You are showing off your ability to recite, or repeat aloud from memory, when you say the entire text of "The Gettysburg Address" or name all the past winners of your town’s asparagus eating contest. Recite entered the English language as a legal term but is now more often used in the realms of education, literature, and religion. Children in school may be assigned a famous poem to recite in front of the class or be tested on how well they can recite their multiplication tables. In many religious traditions, being able to recite passages of sacred texts is an important part of practicing the religion.
Vocabulary lists containing recite
100 Great Words from "Fahrenheit 451" -- Part I Vocabulary
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!
Brown Girl Dreaming
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!
The Secret Life of Bees
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.
During a feast where guests were expected to recite poetry, he reportedly became embarrassed because he did not know any songs or verses to perform.
From Science Daily • May 17, 2026
Years later, she can recite the names of more than a dozen neighbors and family members who lived within a few blocks and died of cancer.
From Salon • May 10, 2026
He said those visiting can "get the whole boat to themselves for an hour and they can take videos and photos, recite all the lines and crush the cans".
From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026
His favorite after-dinner activity was to recite his poetry to the guests—often for two or three hours.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 20, 2026
When I’d repeated the prayer several times and could recite most of it without stumbling, she taught me how to cross myself.
From "When I Was Puerto Rican" by Esmeralda Santiago
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.
