reckon

verb

reck·​on ˈre-kən 

reckoned; reckoning ˈre-kə-niŋ 

ˈrek-niŋ

transitive verb

1

a

: count

reckon the days till Christmas

b

: estimate, compute

reckon the height of a building

c

: to determine by reference to a fixed basis

the existence of the U.S. is reckoned from the Declaration of Independence

2

: to regard or think of as : consider

3

chiefly dialectal : think, suppose

… I reckon I've outlived my time.

—Ellen Glasgow

intransitive verb

1

: to settle accounts

2

: to make a calculation

3

a

: judge

b

chiefly dialectal : suppose, think

4

: to accept something as certain : place reliance

I reckon on your promise to help

see also:

reckon with reckon without

Synonyms of reckon

• estimate
• guess
• calculate
• suppose
• figure
• make

Examples of reckon in a Sentence

I reckon that we'll have to leave early.

Do you reckon you'll be able to go to the grocery store after work?

We'll have to leave early, I reckon.

They reckoned that they would reach their destination by noon.

Losses were reckoned to be over a million dollars.

Recent Examples on the Web

In 1997, as Sanders was reckoning with his father’s pain, Glass was giving in to hers. —Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 21 June 2026

The ruling was a come-to-Jesus reckoning that the NCAA surely never anticipated, demonstrating just how much the organization’s power is built on a house of cards. —Jemele Hill, The Atlantic, 19 June 2026

Archer’s witty debut doubles as a meditation on the divide between good and evil, as both men are forced to reckon with their world’s expectations. —Angelina Mazza, Vulture, 19 June 2026

In addition to reckoning with conspicuous consumption, my novel also investigates what life looks like for the Anderson women when the perennially absent Alan becomes an always-there man. —Courtney Maum, PEOPLE, 19 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English rekenen, from Old English -recenian (as in gerecenian to narrate); akin to Old English reccan

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing reckon

• a force to reckon with
• a man/woman/person to reckon with
• reckon on
• reckon up
• reckon with
• reckon without

Rhymes for reckon

• beckon

Kids Definition

reckon

verb

reck·​on ˈrek-ən 

reckoned; reckoning -(ə-)niŋ 

1

a

: count entry 1 sense 1a, compute

reckon the days till her birthday

b

: to estimate by calculating

reckon the height of a building

2

: consider sense 3, regard

was reckoned among the leaders

3

chiefly dialect : think sense 2, suppose

4

: to look forward to as certain : depend

reckon on support

reckoner

-(ə-)nər

noun