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 of recite

• 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

Tutivillus, who totted up all the mistakes clergymen made when singing hymns or reciting psalms. —JSTOR Daily, 31 Oct. 2025

During the second act of opening night, Hopkins began reciting Iago's lines instead of his role, to the horror of the cast and crew. —Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025

But instead of simply reciting facts, Hellesen’s Eisenhower relates interesting stories that inform all of these experiences. —Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Oct. 2025

Once the camera’s red light goes on, Amaarae slips the device away and recites her questions from memory. —Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 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