reckon

American  

[rek-uhn] / ˈrɛk ən /

verb (used with object)

• reckons,
  present (3rd person singular)
• reckoned,
  past participle,  past
• reckoning
  present participle

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

   Synonyms:

   enumerate

2. to esteem or consider; regard as.

   to be reckoned an authority in the field.

   Synonyms:

   judge, estimate, deem, account

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

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verb (used without object)

• reckons,
  present (3rd person singular)
• reckoned,
  past participle,  past
• reckoning
  present participle

1. to count; make a computation or calculation.

2. to settle accounts, as with a person (often followed byup ).

3. to count, depend, or rely, as in expectation (often followed byon ).

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

verb phrase

1. reckon with

   1. to include in consideration or planning; anticipate.

      He hadn't reckoned with so many obstacles.

   2. to deal with.

      I have to reckon with many problems every day.

reckon British  

/ ˈrɛkən /

verb

1. to calculate or ascertain by calculating; compute

2. (tr) to include; count as part of a set or class

   I reckon her with the angels

3. (usually passive) to consider or regard

   he is reckoned clever

4. (when tr, takes a clause as object) to think or suppose; be of the opinion

   I reckon you don't know where to go next

5. to settle accounts (with)

6. (intr; foll by with or without) to take into account or fail to take into account

   the bully reckoned without John's big brother

7. (intr; foll by on or upon) to rely or depend

   I reckon on your support in this crisis

8. slang (tr) to regard as good

   I don't reckon your chances of success

9. informal (tr) to have a high opinion of

   she was sensitive to bad reviews, even from people she did not reckon

10. of considerable importance or influence

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reckon Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing reckon

• force to be reckoned with

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• outreckon
  verb (used with object)
• prereckon
  verb (used with object)
• underreckon
  verb (used with object)
• unreckon
  verb (used with object)
• reckonable
  adjective
• unreckonable
  adjective
• unreckoned
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• reckoning
  present
• reckoned
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• reckon
  simple
• reckons
  simple
• have reckoned
  perfect
• has reckoned
  perfect
• am reckoning
  progressive
• are reckoning
  progressive
• is reckoning
  progressive
• have been reckoning
  perfect progressive
• has been reckoning
  perfect progressive

Past

• reckoned
  simple
• had reckoned
  perfect
• was reckoning
  progressive
• were reckoning
  progressive
• had been reckoning
  perfect progressive

Future

• will reckon
  simple
• will have reckoned
  perfect
• will be reckoning
  progressive
• will have been reckoning
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of reckon

First recorded before 1000; Middle English rekenen, Old English gerecenian “to report, pay”; cognate with German rechnen “to compute”

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Explanation

Reckon means "guess" or "imagine," and is often used by rural types in Hollywood movies who say things like "I reckon I'll be moseyin' on." Reckon also means "suppose" or "think," as in "I reckon he's put his nose where it don't belong one too many times." If reckon sounds odd, that’s because it's mostly gone out of style. When used to talk about prediction, it's a little more common, as in "Who do you reckon is going to win the Super Bowl?" Still, it sounds a little old-fashioned. Many people use the word just for fun. Saying "I reckon" sounds more humorous than "Yes."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

reckon reckons reckoned reckoning

"I reckon what's happened in the 24 hours after Bournemouth is that they've literally debated it back and forth," former Manchester United captain Neville said on the Stick to Football podcast.

From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026

Nomura analysts reckon that BSP will see the uptick in core inflation as a sign of more second-round effects that warrant additional tightening.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026

Kansas City, as usual over the last decade, will be a force to reckon with — especially at home.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026

Weaker AI monetization expectations lead to less capital spending, which will cause an unwind of long AI positions that will then move into laggards, they reckon.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 9, 2026

For them it was a tool to reckon the passage of the days and to maintain plots of land.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife

The government has introduced tax incentives to encourage skilled Malaysians to return, but these alone are unlikely to reverse the brain drain, he reckons.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026

She reckons people keep using Meta’s products even when they don’t particularly like or trust the company.

From Slate ● Oct. 28, 2026

Right now, he reckons China is about six months behind.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 21, 2026

However, expected interest rate hikes in Indonesia and a weaker rupiah could pressure lending margins and earnings into 2027, he reckons.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026

We call him Ritchie because he has a tattoo of Jimi Hendrix on his right arm but everyone reckons it looks more like Richard Pryor.

From "I Am the Messenger" by Markus Zusak

Researchers reckoned that 25% of the money paid to U.S. hospitals is blown on administrative costs.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 21, 2026

With its wealth of rich oil and gas reserves, a significant agricultural sector and a young and skilled workforce, its economy is one to be reckoned with, says Wilson.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026

Olsi reckoned it would probably start up again in the autumn, though, regardless of those survey results.

From Slate ● Sep. 8, 2026

“There must have been a hole somewhere,” reckoned Joe McManus, the tow operator, of the tarp breach.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026

The going wasn’t very nice because of the wet, but by early evening I reckoned we ought to be near the place.

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams

Few countries are more exposed to climate change than Tuvalu in the South Pacific, an atoll chain reckoning with rising seas, acidifying oceans and outbreaks of tropical disease.

From Barron's ● Oct. 28, 2026

I still think the debt-fueled AI build-out will eventually face a true reckoning.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 26, 2026

This is a patient, deeply considered work, yet one electric with idiosyncratic detail and the discomfort of reckoning with the realities of class.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026

A church in North Carolina was experiencing a reckoning, and someone on the staff was like, ‘No one wants to talk. We haven’t even worshiped together because of the pandemic.’

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026

“Because the hour of reckoning has arrived,” said Granny in a very serious voice, “and the curse at last must be confronted.”

From "Louisiana's Way Home" by Kate DiCamillo

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Related Words

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