recite

verb

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

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

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 Marley would often start concerts by reciting Biblical passages, MacNeil says. John Blake, CNN, 3 Mar. 2024 Additionally, a sixth prayer, optional, called the Tarawih prayer, is recited in the evening, along with the five daily prayers practiced year-round. Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 14 Feb. 2024 Additionally, a sixth prayer, considered optional, called the Tarawih prayer, is recited in the evening, along with the five daily prayers practiced year-round. Marina Johnson, The Indianapolis Star, 14 Feb. 2024 Before any of us could stop him, Fahim began to recite Ayatul Kursi so beautifully, with such flawless tajwid, that even Burhan, who had spent years in the madrassa perfecting his Arabic, was silenced; he just lip-synched along with the old drunk, searching, perhaps, for an error, an imperfection. Jamil Jan Kochai, The New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2024 Bennett recited their names while guiding tours of Mother Emanuel. Danielle Paquette, Washington Post, 16 Feb. 2024 During this veneration, priests will typically recite the Reproaches, a set of original Latin prayers that aim to make parishioners more aware of the sacrifice Christ made for them, according to Catholic Online. Buying property in Arizona? The Arizona Republic, 1 Feb. 2024 There may be other specific memories, but the servers haven’t been asked to recite them all, luckily for us. Pete Wells, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2024 Gabriel Boric, Chile’s youngest-ever President, reportedly recites obscure Chilean poetry at social gatherings. Graciela Mochkofsky, The New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'recite.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near recite

Cite this Entry

“Recite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recite. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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

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