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

Phrases

reckon with

: to take into consideration

reckon without

: to fail to consider : ignore

Synonyms

• calculate
• call
• conjecture
• estimate
• figure
• gauge
• gage
• guess
• judge
• make
• place
• put
• suppose

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

But a failure to reckon with the history of events like Tuscaloosa’s Bloody Tuesday obscures the white violence and Black struggle for liberty that lie at the heart of U.S. history and American people’s ongoing pursuit of democracy. —John M. Giggie / Made By History, TIME, 7 June 2024

With similar weather conditions in place so far this year, plus additions to the power system, California energy officials reckon the summer of 2024 may resemble 2023. —Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2024

The number of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion positions like the ones held by Furlow-Smiles skyrocketed in 2020 after the murder of George Floyd, when many companies were forced to reckon with racial hiring disparities or issues within the workplace. —Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2024

Noting that Mother's Day can be hard for so many — including Menounos, whose mom passed away — the new mom said that it's been harder now as she's reckoned with the fact that her mom will never meet her daughter. —Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 14 May 2024

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

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