reckoning
noun
reck·on·ing
ˈre-kə-niŋ 
ˈrek-niŋ
1
: the act or an instance of reckoning: such as
b
c
: calculation of a ship's position
2
: a settling of accounts
day of reckoning
3
: a summing up
Synonyms
Examples of reckoning in a Sentence
I was more than $10 off in my reckoning.
When the day of reckoning comes, we will have to face some unpleasant truths.
Our football team hardly comes into the reckoning.
Because of his injury, he is out of the reckoning.
The team is still in the reckoning.
Recent Examples on the Web
Although her death prompted a reckoning in the gymnastics world, progress has been slow.
—
Victor Mather, New York Times, 29 Nov. 2023
Other coastal areas, from Boston to the beach towns of Southern California, are facing a similar reckoning.
—Benjamin Schneider, Los Angeles Times, 13 Nov. 2023
The reckoning Both Fried and Bankman were fixtures at their son’s trial, often expressive in a way that contrasted with Bankman-Fried’s stoicism.
—Eli Tan, Washington Post, 11 Nov. 2023
Soon, national governments and UN officials will face a reckoning.
—Richard Gowan, Foreign Affairs, 9 Nov. 2023
These institutions should face a moral reckoning, lest they be given more chances to succeed in eroding this nation’s moral compass.
—WSJ, 7 Nov. 2023
Navigating through a #MeToo reckoning, spinning out a new public company, and stepping in as CEO are once-in-a-lifetime events for most board chairs, but Sarah Nash managed to experience all three within just a few years.
—Lila MacLellan, Fortune, 7 Nov. 2023
Four days before the Con, Vanity Fair published an article about Bravo that the magazine packaged as a reckoning.
—Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 17 Nov. 2023
In the film, Mulligan plays New York Times investigative reporter Meghan Twohey, who, with journalist Jodi Kantor (played by Zoe Kazan), published a bombshell Harvey Weinstein investigation in 2017 that would go on to spur a worldwide #MeToo reckoning.
—Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 17 Nov. 2023
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Victor Mather, New York Times, 29 Nov. 2023
Other coastal areas, from Boston to the beach towns of Southern California, are facing a similar reckoning.
—Benjamin Schneider, Los Angeles Times, 13 Nov. 2023
The reckoning Both Fried and Bankman were fixtures at their son’s trial, often expressive in a way that contrasted with Bankman-Fried’s stoicism.
—Eli Tan, Washington Post, 11 Nov. 2023
Soon, national governments and UN officials will face a reckoning.
—Richard Gowan, Foreign Affairs, 9 Nov. 2023
These institutions should face a moral reckoning, lest they be given more chances to succeed in eroding this nation’s moral compass.
—WSJ, 7 Nov. 2023
Navigating through a #MeToo reckoning, spinning out a new public company, and stepping in as CEO are once-in-a-lifetime events for most board chairs, but Sarah Nash managed to experience all three within just a few years.
—Lila MacLellan, Fortune, 7 Nov. 2023
Four days before the Con, Vanity Fair published an article about Bravo that the magazine packaged as a reckoning.
—Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 17 Nov. 2023
In the film, Mulligan plays New York Times investigative reporter Meghan Twohey, who, with journalist Jodi Kantor (played by Zoe Kazan), published a bombshell Harvey Weinstein investigation in 2017 that would go on to spur a worldwide #MeToo reckoning.
—Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 17 Nov. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reckoning.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of reckoning was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing reckoning
Dictionary Entries Near reckoning
Cite this Entry
“Reckoning.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reckoning. Accessed 10 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
reckoning
noun
reck·on·ing
1
: the act or an instance of calculating
2
: a settling of accounts
day of reckoning
More from Merriam-Webster on reckoning
Nglish: Translation of reckoning for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of reckoning for Arabic Speakers
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