reckon

[ rek-uhn ]

/ ˈrɛk ən /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR reckon ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to count, compute, or calculate, as in number or amount.

to esteem or consider; regard as: to be reckoned an authority in the field.

Chiefly Midland and Southern U.S. to think or suppose.

verb (used without object)

to count; make a computation or calculation.

to settle accounts, as with a person (often followed by up).

to count, depend, or rely, as in expectation (often followed by on).

Chiefly Midland and Southern U.S. to think or suppose.

Verb Phrases

reckon with,

to include in consideration or planning; anticipate: He hadn't reckoned with so many obstacles.
to deal with: I have to reckon with many problems every day.

Nearby words

Origin of reckon

before 1000; Middle English rekenen, Old English gerecenian (attested once) to report, pay; cognate with German rechnen to compute

SYNONYMS FOR reckon

1. enumerate. 2. account, deem, estimate, judge.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR reckon ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

reck·on·a·ble, adjectiveout·reck·on, verb (used with object)pre·reck·on, verb (used with object)un·der·reck·on, verb (used with object)

un·reck·on, verb (used with object)un·reck·on·a·ble, adjectiveun·reck·oned, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for reckon

Either way, we Americans have plenty to answer for and reckon with.
The Media's Pro-Torture Cheerleaders|Jedediah Purdy|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They were holding too many meetings, he realized, descending into politics instead of ascending to reckon with Flagg.
McConaughey’s ‘Stand’—And Ours|James Poulos|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And the failure to reckon with that question will make the injustice of paying dues for partisan speech look like a minor detail.
The Conservative Case for Unions After the Harris v. Quinn Decision|James Poulos|July 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Until we reckon with our compounding moral debts, America will never be whole.
The Daily Beast’s Best Longreads, May 24, 2014|The Daily Beast|May 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST

In exactly what fashion could 317 million people “reckon” or come to certain eternally elusive “terms” with racism?
America Is Coming to Terms with Its Racial Past—Let’s Look Ahead Instead|John McWhorter|May 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I reckon what he said about gettin' you into trouble is all nonsense.
The Young Bridge-Tender|Arthur M. Winfield
"I reckon that I've been a bit thick-haided," he said simply.
The Song of the Wolf|Frank Mayer
Eyes—he tried to count and knew it was impossible to so reckon the number of the pack that ran mute but ready.
Star Born|Andre Norton
Wal, I reckon he's all we're lookin' for this pertickler minnit.
The Young Forester|Zane Grey
I reckon she was feelin' her oats, visitin' at the Senator's house.
Partners of Chance|Henry Herbert Knibbs

British Dictionary definitions for reckon

reckon

/ (ˈrɛkən) /

verb

to calculate or ascertain by calculating; compute

(tr) to include; count as part of a set or classI reckon her with the angels

(usually passive) to consider or regardhe is reckoned clever

(when tr, takes a clause as object) to think or suppose; be of the opinionI reckon you don't know where to go next

(intr foll by with) to settle accounts (with)

(intr ; foll by with or without) to take into account or fail to take into accountthe bully reckoned without John's big brother

(intr ; foll by on or upon) to rely or dependI reckon on your support in this crisis

(tr) slang to regard as goodI don't reckon your chances of success

(tr) informal to have a high opinion ofshe was sensitive to bad reviews, even from people she did not reckon

to be reckoned with of considerable importance or influence

Word Origin for reckon

Old English (ge) recenian recount; related to Old Frisian rekenia, Old High German rehhanón to count

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

Word Origin and History for reckon

reckon

c.1200, recenen, from Old English gerecenian "to explain, relate, recount," from West Germanic *(ga)rekenojanan (cf. Old Frisian rekenia, Middle Dutch and Dutch rekenen, Old High German rehhanon, German rechnen, Gothic rahnjan "to count, reckon"), from Proto-Germanic *rakinaz "ready, straightforward," from PIE *reg- "to move in a straight line," with derivatives meaning "direct in a straight line, rule" (see regal).

Intransitive sense "make a computation" is from c.1300. In I reckon, the sense is "hold an impression or opinion," and the expression, used parenthetically, dates from c.1600 and formerly was in literary use (Richardson, etc.), but came to be associated with U.S. Southern dialect and was regarded as provincial or vulgar. Related: Reckoned; reckoning.

Idioms and Phrases with reckon

reckon

In addition to the idiom beginning with reckon

reckon with

also see:

force to be reckoned with

reckon

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Verb Phrases

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of reckon

Examples from the Web for reckon

reckon

verb

Word Origin for reckon

reckon

reckon