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

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 Hays, on the contrary, had feigned not to recollect quizzing dozens of students on their times tables, the prosecutor reminded the judge. — oregonlive, 6 June 2022 Thanks for giving me a reason to go back in time and to recollect a nice memory. — Demetria Gallegos, WSJ, 14 May 2022 Ask those who recollect the eight years George H.W. Bush served as vice president. — Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2021 Simmers told Dateline that through the investigation, witnesses were eventually questioned, but most could only recollect hearing books falling. — NBC News, 28 Nov. 2021 Jimin apologized before taking a breath to recollect himself. — NBC News, 20 Sep. 2021 As the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics draw to a close today, many will recollect some of this year’s highlights and look ahead to the next games due to be held in Paris in a little under three years from now. — Gus Alexiou, Forbes, 5 Sep. 2021 Mendoza's girlfriend, whom police also arrested but did not name, was intoxicated when she was arrested and couldn't recollect what happened other than someone had hit their car, according to police. — Perry Vandell, The Arizona Republic, 16 Aug. 2021 Many recollect the ghastly smell of burning flesh discharged from the crematoriums; others recall Kristallnacht, that fateful overnight in 1938 that saw hundreds of synagogues and thousands of Jewish businesses destroyed by Nazi forces. — Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2021 See More

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.