recite

verb

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

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 of recite

Relevance
See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

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.
All John needs to do is recite the Green Lanterns oath the next time Hal hands him his ring for training. — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026 Poetry on board On a visit to one of the boat schools this summer, 27 students sat on benches and recited Bangla poetry with their teacher. — Ali Asif Shawon, NPR, 5 Sep. 2026 In Taoist ceremonies during the festival, priests recite sacred scriptures and perform rites to help the deceased find peace and salvation. — ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026 Critics lacking a serious investment in women’s basketball can conveniently swoop in to recite their spiel, and pay no attention to the sport itself. — Jemele Hill, The Atlantic, 21 Aug. 2026 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
reciter
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Recite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recite. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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