record

1 of 4

verb

re·​cord ri-ˈkȯrd 

recorded; recording; records

transitive verb

1

a(1)

: to set down in writing : furnish written evidence of

(2)

: to deposit an authentic official copy of

record a deed

b

: to state for or as if for the record

voted in favor but recorded certain reservations

c(1)

: to register permanently by mechanical means

earthquake shocks recorded by a seismograph

(2)

: indicate, read

the thermometer recorded 90°

2

: to give evidence of

3

: to cause (sound, visual images, data, etc.) to be registered on something (such as a disc or magnetic tape) in reproducible form

intransitive verb

: to record something

recordable

ri-ˈkȯr-də-bəl 

adjective

record

2 of 4

noun (1)

rec·​ord ˈre-kərd 

 also  -ˌkȯrd

1

: the state or fact of being recorded

2

: something that records: such as

a

: something that recalls or relates past events

b

: an official document that records the acts of a public body or officer

c

: an authentic official copy of a document deposited with a legally designated officer

d

: the official copy of the papers used in a law case

3

a(1)

: a body of known or recorded facts about something or someone especially with reference to a particular sphere of activity that often forms a discernible pattern

a good academic record

a liberal voting record

(2)

: a collection of related items of information (as in a database) treated as a unit

b(1)

: an attested top performance

(2)

: an unsurpassed statistic

4

: something on which sound or visual images have been recorded

specifically : a disc with a spiral groove carrying recorded sound for phonograph reproduction

record

3 of 4

adjective

rec·​ord ˈre-kərd 

 also  -ˌkȯrd

: of, relating to, or being one that is extraordinary among or surpasses others of its kind

record heat

record sales

… major league baseball is coming off a record year when almost 53 million people attended.

—Gerald Eskenazi

record

4 of 4

noun (2)

re·​cord ri-ˈkȯrd 

: a function of an electronic device that causes it to record

Phrases

for the record

: for public knowledge : on the record

off the record

: not for publication

spoke off the record

remarks that were off the record

of record

1

: being documented or attested

a partner of record in several firms

2

: being authoritative or sanctioned

a newspaper of record

on record

1

: in the position of having publicly declared oneself

went on record as opposed to higher taxes

2

: being known, published, or documented

the judge's opinion is on record

on the record

: for publication

Synonyms

Verb

• log
• report
• transcribe
• mark
• note

Noun (1)

• chronology
• history
• story
• account
• version
• chronicle
• report

Examples of record in a Sentence

Verb

Be sure to record all your business expenditures.

There are similar events all throughout recorded history.

The thermometer recorded 40 degrees below zero.

A seismograph is a device that measures and records the intensity of earthquakes.

Please record the television program for me.

He recorded the birthday party with his new video camera.

He just recorded his latest album.

The show is recorded in front of a live audience.

The band spent all night recording.

Noun (1)

the town paper published a record of the debate, as well as a synopsis of each candidate's stance on the major questions

historical records on the rise of the Roman Empire are plentiful

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

As the fireline is constructed, inspected or reinforced, mappers record those details to adjust the containment percentage. —Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 20 July 2025

That figure was already a notable drop from January, shortly after Trump returned to office, when the pollster recorded one of his strongest ratings: 56 percent approval and 37 percent disapproval, a net positive of 19 percentage points. —Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 July 2025

Adjective

With many American cities struggling against a record wave of homelessness, a once-beloved art professor back in Cuba who exhibited and curated abroad and at Havana’s famed art biennial soon became a fixture among the homeless of Harlem. —Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 19 July 2025

Five months after the Commodity IQ Inventory Index in 2021 registered what at the time were record lows, the Commodity IQ Price Index increased 6.5% for Q4 2021, climbed another 14.1% in Q1 2022 and inflated electronics commodities pricing through the remainder of Covid-19. —Steve Flagg, Forbes.com, 18 July 2025

Noun

Gannett sold its north Phoenix printing facility for $38 million in August 2023, according to Maricopa County records. —Russ Wiles, AZCentral.com, 23 July 2025

Toronto, winners of a franchise record 11 straight home games, has led the division since sweeping the Yankees over four games at Rogers Centre between June 30 and July 3. —Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 22 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, literally, to recall, from Anglo-French recorder, from Latin recordari, from re- + cord-, cor heart — more at heart

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a(1)

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1884, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1946, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing record

• a matter of record
• break the record
• court of record
• criminal record
• for the record
• gold record
• hit record
• hold the world/Olympic record
• in record numbers
• in record time
• like a broken record
• long-playing record
• losing/winning record
• off the record
• of record
• on record
• on the record
• platinum record
• pre-record
• record book
• record-breaking
• record holder
• record-keeping
• record player
• re-record
• set a record
• set/put the record straight
• sounds like a broken record
• tape-record
• track record

Rhymes for record

• abhorred
• aboard
• accord
• adored
• afford
• award
• baseboard
• billboard
• blackboard
• boxboard
• breadboard
• broadsword

Kids Definition

record

1 of 3 verb

re·​cord ri-ˈkȯ(ə)rd 

1

a

: to set down in writing

b

: to deposit an authentic official copy of

record a deed

c

: to register permanently

events recorded in history

d

: indicate sense 1a, read

the thermometer recorded 40°

2

: to give evidence of

3

: to change sound or visual images into a form (as on magnetic tape) that can be listened to or watched at a later time

record

2 of 3 noun

rec·​ord ˈrek-ərd 

 also  -ˌȯrd

1

: the state or fact of being recorded

on record

2

a

: something that recalls or tells about past events

b

: an official writing that records what has been said or done by a group, organization, or official

c

: an authentic official copy of a document

3

a

: the known or recorded facts about something or someone

my school record

b

: a recorded top performance or achievement

broke the high jump record

4

: something on which sound or visual images have been recorded

record

3 of 3 adjective

rec·​ord

ˈrek-ərd

: setting a record : outstanding among other like things

a record crop

record prices

Legal Definition

record

1 of 2 transitive verb

re·​cord ri-ˈkȯrd 

1

: to put in a record

2

: to deposit or otherwise cause to be registered in the appropriate office as a record and notice of a title or interest in property

record a deed

record a mortgage

see also recording act

3

: to cause (as sound, images, or data) to be registered on something in reproducible form

record a telephone conversation

intransitive verb

: to record something

record

2 of 2 noun

rec·​ord ˈre-kərd 

1

: the documentary account of something

confidential medical records

: as

a

: an official document that records the acts of a public body or officer

b

: an official copy of a document deposited with a designated officer

c

: the official set of papers used and generated in a proceeding

the appeals court reviewed the trial record

d

: documented evidence or history of one or more arrests or convictions see also business records exception, public records exception

2

: something (as a disc or tape) on which images, sound, or data has been recorded