recollect

verb (1)

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rec·ol·lect | \ ˌre-kə-ˈlekt

recollected; recollecting; recollects

Definition of recollect

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to bring back to the level of conscious awareness : remember trying to recollect the name

2 : to remind (oneself) of something temporarily forgotten

intransitive verb

: to call something to mind

re-collect

verb (2)

re-col·lect | \ ˌrē-kə-ˈlekt

re-collected; re-collecting; re-collects

Definition of re-collect (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: to collect again especially : rally, recover

Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about recollect

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Choose the Right Synonym for recollect

Verb (1)

remember, recollect, recall, remind, reminisce mean to bring an image or idea from the past into the mind. remember implies a keeping in memory that may be effortless or unwilled. remembers that day as though it were yesterday recollect implies a bringing back to mind what is lost or scattered. as near as I can recollect recall suggests an effort to bring back to mind and often to re-create in speech. can't recall the words of the song remind suggests a jogging of one's memory by an association or similarity. that reminds me of a story reminisce implies a casual often nostalgic recalling of experiences long past and gone. old college friends like to reminisce

Examples of recollect in a Sentence

Verb (1) I've been trying to recollect what happened. I don't recollect telling him anything, but maybe I did. She couldn't recollect who had mentioned his name in the first place. From what I recollect, they said four of them were coming.

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb The account offered him not just a space for his creative energy, but a chance to recollect and write some of his stories down for the first time. — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, "Dave Grohl to Publish Autobiographical Book ‘The Storyteller’," 6 Apr. 2021 And Pesca’s failure to recollect, in the view of some Slate staffers, suggests that management didn’t properly address the situation with him. — Washington Post, "Opinion: Slate clarifies guidelines on use of racial slurs following suspension of podcaster Mike Pesca," 26 Feb. 2021 Berger, in a deposition, didn’t recollect providing test data to Ohlin. — Mike Hughlett, Star Tribune, "3M mired in one of largest mass torts ever over military earplugs," 18 Sep. 2020 That poetry takes it origins from ‘emotion recollected in tranquility’? — Christopher Borrelli, chicagotribune.com, "For Richard Powers of Evanston, author of the Pulitzer-winning ‘Overstory,’ trees are people too," 8 Oct. 2019 Reflecting on times spent with Bob, one can't help but smile, shake your head, recollecting some crazy memory, and softly chuckle-CHEERS BOB! — courant.com, "Robert D. Jones," 28 Nov. 2019 In the bestselling book, Rich Dad, Poor Dad author Robert Kiyosaki recollects his early experiences from the teachings of his poor dad, and his wealthy best friend’s dad. — Ashley Mcdonough, Essence, "8 Books You Need to Read to Get Your Money Right," 27 Nov. 2019 Who will endure through the mists of time to get recollected a decade or two from now? — Jon Tayler, SI.com, "37 MLB Players Destined to Become 'Guys' Who Will Be Remembered," 17 Sep. 2019 For the study, health investigators collected bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples—that is fluid flushed into and then recollected from the lung through a tube inserted into the mouth or nose. — Beth Mole, Ars Technica, "Vitamin E acetate found in all lung fluid samples tested from injured vapers," 8 Nov. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'recollect.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.