recite
Americanverb (used with object)
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recites,
present (3rd person singular)
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recited,
past participle, past
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reciting
present participle
verb (used without object)
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recites,
present (3rd person singular)
-
recited,
past participle, past
-
reciting
present participle
-
to recite a lesson or part of a lesson for a teacher.
-
to recite or repeat something from memory.
verb
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to repeat (a poem, passage, etc) aloud from memory before an audience, teacher, etc
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(tr) to give a detailed account of
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(tr) to enumerate (examples, etc)
Synonym Usage
See relate.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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reciternoun
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prereciteverb (used with object)
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recitableadjective
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unrecitedadjective
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well-recitedadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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recitesimple
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recitessimple
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have recitedperfect
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has recitedperfect
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am recitingprogressive
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are recitingprogressive
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is recitingprogressive
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have been recitingperfect progressive
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has been recitingperfect progressive
Past
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recitedsimple
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had recitedperfect
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was recitingprogressive
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were recitingprogressive
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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
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Brown Girl Dreaming
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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:
He could also recite statistics on the percentage of Iran’s missiles, ships, airplanes, etc., we’ve destroyed in the six-month war.
From Slate ● Sep. 4, 2026
He offers Gruel a lazy thumbs-up, accepts the chef’s joke about cooking for a dignitary and immediately turns to the camera to recite the show’s mission statement.
From Salon ● Aug. 5, 2026
A: When I interview portfolio managers and ask them what they’ve been reading for fun, I always cringe when they recite a list of business books.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
Because it was the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, the children gathered inside the prayer hall to recite the Quran, she recalls, before she began teaching her pupils a new letter of the Persian alphabet.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
Olanna was teaching some children to recite the multiplication tables the morning that Kainene rushed up to the flame tree.
From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Nearly four decades later, Jane still recites his mantras like gospel: Don’t sell.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 5, 2026
Bare still reflexively recites stock tickers out loud when companies are mentioned.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
We know this because Charles Dance recites Michelangelo’s snidest journal passages throughout, bringing a welcome pettiness to an otherwise staid chapter of art history.
From Salon ● May 16, 2026
Even Hegseth must realize that the more hard-line military court would likely dismiss a case based on a video in which Kelly recites a fundamental plank of military law.
From Slate ● Jan. 13, 2026
We pull forward, and Dad recites our order at the speaker box.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
Phayom Raksa solemnly recited a pledge that touched on the teachings of the Buddha, and mentioned Thailand's king and the well-being of the nation.
From Barron's ● Aug. 3, 2026
In a solemn ceremony, Moon recited his proclamation on an elevated stage.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 27, 2026
Nelson Mandela recited it in prison to give himself heart.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 22, 2026
This ritual lasted an entire night and involved burning small figures made of wax and clay while an exorcist recited specific incantations.
From Science Daily ● May 5, 2026
The boy recited with a thrilling clarity, and a jarring touch of what my generation would call Cockney, though I have no idea these days what the significance is of a glottal t.
From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan
The 1974 concept album My Tennessee Mountain Home, meanwhile, is a musical autobiography that opens with Parton reciting the first letter she wrote home after moving to Nashville as a teenager.
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
"I tried to comfort them. Some spent the whole day reciting the Quran, others passed the time on TikTok. I just wanted everyone to stay calm," he said.
From Barron's ● Aug. 4, 2026
Students reciting Annapolis’ “Midshipman Ethos” say they’re “united by our oath to defend the Constitution,” not their background.
From Slate ● Jun. 24, 2026
Kyle Avery added that at the Oscars, they played a clip from “Superman” that featured Paul reciting his line.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 23, 2026
A day never went by without one of them breaking into song, reciting a sonnet, or dancing a jig.
From "Willodeen" by Katherine Applegate
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.
