reckoning

noun

reck·​on·​ing ˈre-kə-niŋ 

ˈrek-niŋ

1

: the act or an instance of reckoning: such as

a

: account, bill

b

: computation

c

: calculation of a ship's position

2

: a settling of accounts

day of reckoning

3

: a summing up

Synonyms of reckoning

• assessment
• estimate
• appraisal
• estimation
• evaluation
• appraisement
• examination
• calculation

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

There is no reckoning with whether a ceasefire that permits one side to continue killing can be called a ceasefire at all. —Mohammed R. Mhawish, New Yorker, 29 Dec. 2025

Parties double as social reckonings and scenes for major turning points—places where power shifts, deals are struck, and revolutions are born. —Serena Turner, Vanity Fair, 29 Dec. 2025

From shocking acts of violence to courtroom reckonings that captivated the public, 2025 brought a series of crime stories that gripped the nation’s attention. —Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 28 Dec. 2025

As the night fills with surreal visitors and unsettling reckonings, the book becomes a haunting exploration of power, legacy, and whether a life well-lived can truly be beyond judgment. —Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 26 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing reckoning

• by someone's reckoning
• dead reckoning
• hour of reckoning

Rhymes for reckoning

• beckoning

Kids Definition

reckoning

noun

reck·​on·​ing

1

: the act or an instance of calculating

2

: a settling of accounts

day of reckoning