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

The pair sang the peace anthem toward the end of the funeral service, before the congregation recited the Lord's Prayer. —Rachel Raposas, People.com, 9 Jan. 2025

Yearwood performed the peaceful song before the church recited the Lord’s Prayer. —Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 9 Jan. 2025

The figures for both Trump and Biden were programmed to recite the oath of office. —Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel, 8 Jan. 2025

In the late 1960s, Askew spent a few months living, reciting poetry, and occasionally playing songs in New York. —Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 7 Jan. 2025

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