recitation

noun

rec·​i·​ta·​tion ˌre-sə-ˈtā-shən 

1

: the act of enumerating

a recitation of relevant details

2

: the act or an instance of reading or repeating aloud especially publicly

3

a

: a student's oral reply to questions

b

: a class period especially in association with and for review of a lecture

Examples of recitation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Harlem Renaissance was filled with poetry and song—and with performance, as enshrined in Greaves’s footage which features many spontaneous, thrillingly theatrical recitations of poems by Bontemps, Hughes, Cullen, and McKay. —Richard Brody, New Yorker, 23 Sep. 2025

More than a dozen early cases generally upheld laws and policies mandating their recitation in schools. —Lydia Artz, The Conversation, 5 Sep. 2025

Just as there are many productions of Ibsen’s A Doll House, and each is unique to the actors and theatre performing it, every recitation of a book is a singular performance. —Adam Verner september 3, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025

But now that he’s seen countless more political, ethical, and moral failures in the years since — and despite his best efforts to speak truth to power — there’s a wariness to Lee’s recitations of infuriating facts and figures. —Ben Travers, IndieWire, 27 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for recitation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

recitation

noun

rec·​i·​ta·​tion ˌres-ə-ˈtā-shən 

1

: a complete telling or listing of something

2

: the act or an instance of reading or repeating aloud especially before an audience

3

: a student's oral reply to questions