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

Critics lacking a serious investment in women’s basketball can conveniently swoop in to recite their spiel, and pay no attention to the sport itself. — Jemele Hill, The Atlantic, 21 Aug. 2026

Bowie allegedly told other users about her oath and shared the audio file of her reciting the pledge with them. — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 20 Aug. 2026

The process can take many forms – journaling, reciting the Psalm, YouTubing the Shofar, giving tzedakah, meditating, reading. — Risa Polansky Shiman, Sun Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2026

Before it was written down, bards recited the adventures of Odysseus and the Greeks orally. — Margherita Bassi, Popular Science, 19 Aug. 2026

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