recite

1 of 2

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

reciter

2 of 2

noun

re·​cit·​er

ri-ˈsī-tər

: one that recites

Synonyms of recite

Verb

• describe
• tell
• narrate
• recount
• relate
• chronicle

Examples of recite in a Sentence

Verb

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

Verb

Ethnographic research from northwest Armenia, published in 2024, describes people bathing the baby while reciting prayers and blessings. — Shushan Karapetian, The Conversation, 19 Oct. 2026

The Vatican said the pope is scheduled to recite the Angelus prayer from the window of the papal apartment on Sunday. — ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026

As Margaritora led the procedure, Gemelli’s medical staff recited the rosary prayer in the hospital chapel. — Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 17 Oct. 2026

Past popes who have been hospitalized have recited the Angelus from the balcony on the 10th floor of Gemelli Hospital. — CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

Verb

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