recital

noun

re·​cit·​al ri-ˈsī-tᵊl 

1

a

: a detailed account : enumeration

a recital of names and dates

b

: the act or process or an instance of reciting

c

: discourse, narration

a colorful recital of a night on the town

2

a

: a concert given by an individual musician or dancer or by a dance troupe

b

: a public exhibition of skill given by music or dance pupils

recitalist

ri-ˈsī-tᵊl-ist 

noun

Examples of recital in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

At three people died earlier this month when a building hosting a prayer recital collapsed in West Java. —Britt Clennett, ABC News, 30 Sep. 2025

Chris also gets sidelined by the protest traffic, and chooses to put on her running shoes and sprint to her daughter’s recital when taking a car there proves impossible. —Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 24 Sep. 2025

The performances were interspersed with speeches, poems and recitals by actors Riz Ahmed, Guy Pearce, Benedict Cumberbatch, Florence Pugh, Richard Gere, and more. —Thomas Smith, Billboard, 18 Sep. 2025

My mom was a dancer, so growing up, makeup and dance recitals and dress-up, all of it was very, very normal for me. —Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1536, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for recital

• entitle
• subtitle
• title
• vital

Kids Definition

recital

noun

re·​cit·​al ri-ˈsīt-ᵊl 

1

: a reciting of something

especially : a story told in detail

2

: a program of music usually given by a single performer

a piano recital

3

: a public performance by music or dance pupils

recitalist

-ᵊl-əst 

noun

Legal Definition

recital

noun

re·​ci·​tal ri-ˈsīt-ᵊl 

: a formal statement or setting forth of some relevant matter of fact in a deed or other document

Note: A recital is often preceded by whereas.