record

1 of 4

verb

re·​cord ri-ˈkȯrd How to pronounce record (audio)
recorded; recording; records

transitive verb

1
a(1)
: to set down in writing : furnish written evidence of
(2)
: to deposit an authentic official copy of
record a deed
b
: to state for or as if for the record
voted in favor but recorded certain reservations
c(1)
: to register permanently by mechanical means
earthquake shocks recorded by a seismograph
(2)
: indicate, read
the thermometer recorded 90°
2
: to give evidence of
3
: to cause (sound, visual images, data, etc.) to be registered on something (such as a disc or magnetic tape) in reproducible form

intransitive verb

: to record something
recordable adjective

record

2 of 4

noun (1)

rec·​ord ˈre-kərd How to pronounce record (audio)
 also  -ˌkȯrd
1
: the state or fact of being recorded
2
: something that records: such as
a
: something that recalls or relates past events
b
: an official document that records the acts of a public body or officer
c
: an authentic official copy of a document deposited with a legally designated officer
d
: the official copy of the papers used in a law case
3
a(1)
: a body of known or recorded facts about something or someone especially with reference to a particular sphere of activity that often forms a discernible pattern
a good academic record
a liberal voting record
(2)
: a collection of related items of information (as in a database) treated as a unit
b(1)
: an attested top performance
(2)
: an unsurpassed statistic
4
: something on which sound or visual images have been recorded
specifically : a disc with a spiral groove carrying recorded sound for phonograph reproduction

record

3 of 4

adjective

rec·​ord ˈre-kərd How to pronounce record (audio)
 also  -ˌkȯrd
: of, relating to, or being one that is extraordinary among or surpasses others of its kind
record heat
record sales
… major league baseball is coming off a record year when almost 53 million people attended.Gerald Eskenazi

record

4 of 4

noun (2)

re·​cord ri-ˈkȯrd How to pronounce record (audio)
: a function of an electronic device that causes it to record
Phrases
for the record
: for public knowledge : on the record
off the record
: not for publication
spoke off the record
remarks that were off the record
of record
1
: being documented or attested
a partner of record in several firms
2
: being authoritative or sanctioned
a newspaper of record
on record
1
: in the position of having publicly declared oneself
went on record as opposed to higher taxes
2
: being known, published, or documented
the judge's opinion is on record
on the record
: for publication

Examples of record in a Sentence

Verb Be sure to record all your business expenditures. There are similar events all throughout recorded history. The thermometer recorded 40 degrees below zero. A seismograph is a device that measures and records the intensity of earthquakes. Please record the television program for me. He recorded the birthday party with his new video camera. He just recorded his latest album. The show is recorded in front of a live audience. The band spent all night recording. Noun (1) the town paper published a record of the debate, as well as a synopsis of each candidate's stance on the major questions historical records on the rise of the Roman Empire are plentiful
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
The documents showed that officials were recording Uyghurs’ religious activity and level of cooperation with authorities, among other details. Anna Cooban, CNN, 27 Nov. 2024 During the 1982 experiment, researchers recorded sound using a line array of hydrophones towed behind a ship for three weeks. Alexa Robles-Gil, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Nov. 2024
Adjective
That’s technically around the record high for America’s female labor force participation rate, according to official government records. Tiana Lowe Doescher, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 29 Nov. 2024 Adobe Analytics, which has been tracking online prices since 2014, reported that U.S shoppers spent a record 6.1 billion online on Thanksgiving, up 8.8% over the previous Thanksgiving. Joan Verdon, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2024
Noun
After the retaliatory tariffs were suspended, whiskey exports surged from $440 million to a record high of $2.2 billion in 2023, according to the Distilled Spirits Council. Alicia Wallace, CNN, 30 Nov. 2024 Stocks are heading into December with the benchmark S&P 500 near record highs following an over 25% year-to-date gain. Lewis Krauskopf, USA TODAY, 30 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for record 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, literally, to recall, from Anglo-French recorder, from Latin recordari, from re- + cord-, cor heart — more at heart

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a(1)

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1884, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1946, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of record was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near record

Cite this Entry

“Record.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/record. Accessed 7 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

record

1 of 3 verb
re·​cord ri-ˈkȯ(ə)rd How to pronounce record (audio)
1
a
: to set down in writing
b
: to deposit an authentic official copy of
record a deed
c
: to register permanently
events recorded in history
d
: indicate sense 1a, read
the thermometer recorded 40°
2
: to give evidence of
3
: to change sound or visual images into a form (as on magnetic tape) that can be listened to or watched at a later time

record

2 of 3 noun
rec·​ord ˈrek-ərd How to pronounce record (audio)
 also  -ˌȯrd
1
: the state or fact of being recorded
on record
2
a
: something that recalls or tells about past events
b
: an official writing that records what has been said or done by a group, organization, or official
c
: an authentic official copy of a document
3
a
: the known or recorded facts about something or someone
my school record
b
: a recorded top performance or achievement
broke the high jump record
4
: something on which sound or visual images have been recorded

record

3 of 3 adjective
rec·​ord
ˈrek-ərd
: setting a record : outstanding among other like things
a record crop
record prices

Legal Definition

record

1 of 2 transitive verb
re·​cord ri-ˈkȯrd How to pronounce record (audio)
1
: to put in a record
2
: to deposit or otherwise cause to be registered in the appropriate office as a record and notice of a title or interest in property
record a deed
record a mortgage
see also recording act
3
: to cause (as sound, images, or data) to be registered on something in reproducible form
record a telephone conversation

intransitive verb

: to record something

record

2 of 2 noun
rec·​ord ˈre-kərd How to pronounce record (audio)
1
: the documentary account of something
confidential medical records
: as
a
: an official document that records the acts of a public body or officer
b
: an official copy of a document deposited with a designated officer
c
: the official set of papers used and generated in a proceeding
the appeals court reviewed the trial record
d
: documented evidence or history of one or more arrests or convictions see also business records exception, public records exception
2
: something (as a disc or tape) on which images, sound, or data has been recorded

More from Merriam-Webster on record

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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