recital

1 of 2

noun (1)

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

recitalist

2 of 2

noun (2)

re·​cit·​al·​ist ri-ˈsī-tᵊl-ist 

plural -s

: one who gives recitals

a lieder recitalist

—Abraham Veinus

Examples of recital in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Today, Gilly Brew Bar hosts poetry nights, book clubs, art shows, baby showers and music recitals. — Alexa Liacko, CBS News, 19 June 2026

The Kansas City Current co-owner and wife of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes shared a carousel of photos on Monday, June 8, that captured the family celebrating the dance recital of their oldest child, daughter Sterling, 5. — Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 8 June 2026

Throughout the rosary recital in the grotto, I was plagued with worry. — Annie Ernaux, New Yorker, 1 June 2026

As spring ramps up toward summer, with all the finals, end-of-season tournaments, dance recitals, and graduations adding to an already busy schedule, can leave parents stressed out, exhausted, and short tempered. — Chi Varnado, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

recital + -ist

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1536, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for recital

• entitle
• subtitle
• phytol
• 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.