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

• describe
• tell
• narrate
• recount
• relate
• chronicle

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

Over the years, my kids could probably recite my paranoid speeches to them about rip currents. —Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025

Think buttons toddlers can press to play prompts on how to share with friends, and even ones that recite a step-by-step bedtime routine for kids to follow. —Liz Regalia, Parents, 21 July 2025

Ron Cyrus recites a hymn written by Eldon Lindsey Cyrus, Cyrus’ great grandfather. —Audrey Gibbs, The Tennessean, 17 July 2025

Throughout her childhood in Mexico, the writer's great-grandmother often recited folk tales about the magic practicers that were said to roam the country. —Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 15 July 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

Rhymes for recite

• affright
• airtight
• albite
• alight
• alright
• aplite
• aright
• bainite
• birthright
• bobwhite
• bornite
• bullfight

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