recite
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
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to recite a lesson or part of a lesson for a teacher.
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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)
Related Words
See relate.
Other Word Forms
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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The Secret Life of Bees
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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.
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
Felicia Smith listens to Melody Godfred recite poems from her book “Moon Garden.”
From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 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
You’re in a restaurant, and the server comes to the table to recite the specials of the day.
From "Silent To The Bone" by E.L. Konigsburg
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.
