recite

verb

re·​cite ri-ˈsīt How to pronounce recite (audio)
recited; reciting
Synonyms of recitenext

transitive verb

1
: to repeat from memory or read aloud publicly
2
a
: to relate in full
recites dull anecdotes
b
: to give a recital of : detail
recited a catalog of offenses
3
: to repeat or answer questions about (a lesson)

intransitive verb

1
: to repeat or read aloud something memorized or prepared
2
: to reply to a teacher's question on a lesson
reciter noun

Synonyms

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Examples of recite in a Sentence

He recited the poem with great feeling. He began to recite from the Koran. He can easily recite all the facts about any player on the team.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
After her, Lily recites all the things his mother had promised to teach her: to speak Russian, to make dumplings, to grow vegetables. — David Bezmozgis, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2025 As the father-daughter duo sat together in a chair, Carmen recited various words to her dad, who then had to try to define them. — Hannah Sacks, People.com, 4 Apr. 2025 The explicit saying was recited at sporting events across the country in defiance of the president's coronavirus mandates. — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 4 Apr. 2025 Children should be able to recite their address and a trusted guardian's phone number when asked. — Sherri Gordon, Parents, 31 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for recite

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, to relate, state, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French reciter, from Latin recitare to recite, from re- + citare to summon — more at cite

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of recite was in the 15th century

Rhymes for recite

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Browse Nearby Words

recitativo
recite
reciting note
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Recite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recite. Accessed 10 Apr. 2025.

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Kids Definition

recite

verb
re·​cite ri-ˈsīt How to pronounce recite (audio)
recited; reciting
1
: to repeat from memory or read aloud before an audience
recite a poem
2
: to tell all the details of
3
: to answer questions about a lesson
reciter noun

More from Merriam-Webster on recite

Nglish: Translation of recite for Spanish Speakers

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