recite

verb

re·​cite ri-ˈsīt 

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

Synonyms

• chart
• chronicle
• describe
• narrate
• recount
• rehearse
• relate
• report
• tell

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

During the vigil, Mason recited the names of nine trans women who had been killed in Chicago before Red, either on the South Side or West Side within about the past six years. —Peter Breen, Chicago Tribune, 13 Sep. 2024

One of those young people was Ruby Davies, 10, who won the individual reciting competition for Welsh learners. —Simon Perry, Peoplemag, 10 Sep. 2024

However, in high school, through the arts — in his case, writing and reciting poetry — Jones reclaimed his voice. —Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2024

Mears recited the three charges that Shepherd faces: murder, felony murder and rape, a Class A felony. —Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 5 Sep. 2024

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

Kids Definition

recite

verb

re·​cite ri-ˈsīt 

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