recite

1 of 2

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

reciter

2 of 2

noun

re·​cit·​er

ri-ˈsī-tər

: one that recites

Synonyms of recite

Verb

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

Examples of recite in a Sentence

Verb

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

Verb

Hannah-Jones does repeat the old arguments about why these schools fail, but in an almost perfunctory manner, the way a heretic might recite the Lord’s Prayer more out of habit than out of belief. — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2026

Funny thing is, their love only deepened and the couple was married in July, and both reportedly recited their own vows. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 25 Sep. 2026

Ne’ilah prayers are accordingly recited at the closing of the day – just at sunset, adding nature’s drama to the closing of the day. — Reuven Kimelman, The Conversation, 18 Sep. 2026

Buyers are even reciting the specifics back to us unprompted. — Ali Aydan, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

Verb

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