reckon

verb

reck·​on ˈre-kən 

reckoned; reckoning ˈre-kə-niŋ 

ˈrek-niŋ

transitive verb

1

a

: count

reckon the days till Christmas

b

: estimate, compute

reckon the height of a building

c

: to determine by reference to a fixed basis

the existence of the U.S. is reckoned from the Declaration of Independence

2

: to regard or think of as : consider

3

chiefly dialectal : think, suppose

… I reckon I've outlived my time.

—Ellen Glasgow

intransitive verb

1

: to settle accounts

2

: to make a calculation

3

a

: judge

b

chiefly dialectal : suppose, think

4

: to accept something as certain : place reliance

I reckon on your promise to help

see also:

reckon with reckon without

Synonyms of reckon

• estimate
• guess
• calculate
• suppose
• figure
• make

Examples of reckon in a Sentence

I reckon that we'll have to leave early.

Do you reckon you'll be able to go to the grocery store after work?

We'll have to leave early, I reckon.

They reckoned that they would reach their destination by noon.

Losses were reckoned to be over a million dollars.

Recent Examples on the Web

Expect more critically dry years Future hydrology is the biggest and most impactful uncertainty federal officials must reckon with while crafting plans for the river, Smith said in the January webinar. —Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 19 Apr. 2026

Policymakers are racing into the next classroom fad before reckoning with the damage from the last one. —Catherine Thorbecke, Boston Herald, 18 Apr. 2026

The board will also likely reckon with the district’s declining enrollment, with the school closure moratorium lifting after the 2026-27 school year. —Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026

In 2023, Anna Peele wrote about the reckoning facing reality TV—more specifically, the Bravo-verse—in her explosive Vanity Fair exposé. —Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 16 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English rekenen, from Old English -recenian (as in gerecenian to narrate); akin to Old English reccan

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing reckon

• a force to reckon with
• a man/woman/person to reckon with
• reckon on
• reckon up
• reckon with
• reckon without

Rhymes for reckon

• beckon

Kids Definition

reckon

verb

reck·​on ˈrek-ən 

reckoned; reckoning -(ə-)niŋ 

1

a

: count entry 1 sense 1a, compute

reckon the days till her birthday

b

: to estimate by calculating

reckon the height of a building

2

: consider sense 3, regard

was reckoned among the leaders

3

chiefly dialect : think sense 2, suppose

4

: to look forward to as certain : depend

reckon on support

reckoner

-(ə-)nər

noun