recount

1 of 3

verb (1)

re·​count ri-ˈkau̇nt 

recounted; recounting; recounts

transitive verb

: to relate in detail : narrate

recounter noun

recount

2 of 3

verb (2)

re·​count (ˌ)rē-ˈkau̇nt 

recounted; recounting; recounts

transitive verb

: to count again

recount

3 of 3

noun

re·​count ˈrē-ˌkau̇nt  (ˌ)rē-ˈkau̇nt 

: a second or fresh count

Synonyms of recount

Verb (1)

• describe
• tell
• narrate
• chronicle
• relate
• report

Examples of recount in a Sentence

Verb (1)

a novel that recounted an American soldier's adventures among the samurai warriors of 19th-century Japan

Noun

The election was very close and the loser demanded a recount.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

For years, Nigerian soldiers have recounted stories of being outgunned by militants and criminal gangs. —Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 28 Nov. 2025

During a fireside dinner, Drebin recounts a past heartbreak. —Ian Crouch, New Yorker, 28 Nov. 2025

Noun

Nasralla, from the Liberal Party, said that the result was too close to call and that the result would not be known until Monday, although this could take longer to be certified, depending on disputes and recounts. —Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Dec. 2025

The Wayne County Board of Canvassers approved a request for a recount in the Hamtramck mayoral race in Tuesday's board meeting, one week after certified votes showed Adam Alharbi winning by six votes over Councilman Muhith Mahmood. —Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 25 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French recunter, from re- + cunter to count, relate — more at count

Verb (2)

re- + count

First Known Use

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1764, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1850, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for recount

• account
• amount
• discount
• dismount
• remount
• seamount
• surmount
• count
• fount
• mount
• rediscount
• subaccount

Kids Definition

recount

1 of 3 verb

re·​count ri-ˈkau̇nt 

: to tell about in detail : narrate

recount an adventure

recount

2 of 3 verb

re·​count (ˈ)rē-ˈkau̇nt 

: to count again

recount

3 of 3 noun

re·​count ˈrē-ˌkau̇nt 

(ˈ)rē-ˈkau̇nt

: a second or fresh count (as of election votes)

Etymology

Verb

Middle English recounten "to tell about," from early French recunter (same meaning), from re- "again" and cunter "relate, count"

Verb

from English re- (prefix) and count