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 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 That makes this weekend a time to recollect and celebrate the good times. — Matt Nevala, Anchorage Daily News, "Make some noise, Cowbell Crew — the boys are back in town for Aces alumni game," 8 Nov. 2019 Metro bus driver Antonio McClendon recollects his actions after his bus was caught in the crossfire of a shooting that killed one his bus riders. — Chris Mayhew, Cincinnati.com, "Bus driver 'made the right call' speeding to hospital with shooting victim, Metro says," 26 Aug. 2019 Sachin Bansal, co-founder of the e-commerce major Flipkart, took to social media to recollect their relationship. — Pramod Mathew, Quartz India, "Tributes pour in as the body of a missing Indian coffee baron is found on the banks of a river," 31 July 2019 Svoboda took a moment to recollect his unit's losses, which include a pair of NFL players in former punter and kickoff specialist Jack Fox and kick return specialist Austin Walter. — Glynn A. Hill, Houston Chronicle, "Rice coaches discuss upcoming season at THSCA convention," 23 July 2019 The image recollected how much Sept. 11, 2001, reconfigured America's politics and anxieties, even though school shooters and white gunmen are more pressing threats these days than Middle East jihadists. — Jeffrey Fleishman, chicagotribune.com, "Kathy Griffin made $75 million making people laugh. But the phone’s not ringing," 22 July 2019 The image recollected how much Sept. 11, 2001, reconfigured America’s politics and anxieties, even though school shooters and white gunmen are more pressing threats these days than Middle East jihadists. — Los Angeles Times, "Kathy Griffin fell from the D-list to the S-list. She’s clawing her way back," 18 July 2019 In his response, Pell's barrister, Walker, said Portelli's evidence was sound, given he was being asked to recollect the events of 22 years ago, as was everyone involved in what have been a difficult case. — Hilary Whiteman, CNN, "Cardinal Pell back in prison while judges consider appeal," 6 June 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.

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Last Updated

15 Nov 2019

Cite this Entry

“Recollect.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recollects. Accessed 22 November 2019.

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