recap

1 of 4

noun (1)

re·​cap ˈrē-ˌkap 

: recapitulation

recap

2 of 4

verb (1)

re·​cap ˈrē-ˌkap 

ri-ˈkap

recapped; recapping

: recapitulate

recap

3 of 4

noun (2)

re·​cap ˈrē-ˌkap 

: retread sense 1

recap

4 of 4

verb (2)

re·​cap (ˌ)rē-ˈkap 

recapped; recapping

transitive verb

: retread

recappable

(ˌ)rē-ˈka-pə-bəl 

adjective

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• abstract
• breviary
• brief
• capsule
• conspectus
• digest
• encapsulation
• epitome
• inventory
• outline
• précis
• recapitulation
• résumé
• resume
• resumé
• roundup
• run-through
• rundown
• sum
• sum-up
• summa
• summarization
• summary
• summing-up
• synopsis
• wrap-up

Verb (1)

• abstract
• boil down
• brief
• digest
• encapsulate
• epitomize
• outline
• recapitulate
• reprise
• sum up
• summarize
• synopsize
• wrap up

Examples of recap in a Sentence

Noun (1)

after a recap of this morning's meeting, we can discuss the issues that were raised

Verb (1)

please recap the highlights of the game for me

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more. —Joey Nolfi Published, EW.com, 3 June 2025

Thomas shared a recap of her weekend on X, which drew a reply from the social media user who bragged about heckling her and shared a video of himself incessantly yelling at her throughout the event. —Sean Neumann, People.com, 3 June 2025

Verb

For some reason, the singers decided to recap the entire concert up to that point, song by song, and any momentum the show had built came to a screeching halt. —Chad Jones, Mercury News, 29 May 2025

To recap, on April 28, air traffic controllers handling inbound traffic at Newark experienced a brief radar and radio outage. —Zach Wichter, USA Today, 23 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

by shortening

Verb (2) and Noun (2)

re- + cap entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

circa 1926, in the meaning defined above

Verb (1)

1945, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1940, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1941, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for recap

• bandgap
• bitmap
• blackcap
• blackstrap
• bootstrap
• burlap
• claptrap
• entrap
• foolscap
• kidnap
• kneecap
• madcap

Kids Definition

recap

1 of 4 verb

re·​cap ˈrē-ˌkap 

ri-ˈkap

recapped; recapping

: recapitulate

now, to recap the news

recap

2 of 4 noun

re·​cap ˈrē-ˌkap 

: a brief summary : recapitulation

recap

3 of 4 verb

re·​cap (ˈ)rē-ˈkap 

recapped; recapping

: retread entry 1 sense 1

recap

4 of 4 noun

re·​cap ˈrē-ˌkap 

: retread entry 2 sense 2