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: not for publication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

• jot (down)
• log
• mark
• note
• put down
• register
• report
• set down
• take down
• write down

Noun (1)

• account
• chronicle
• chronology
• commentary
• commentaries
• history
• narration
• narrative
• report
• story

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Here's what happened that day Police and prosecutors were aided in the investigation by surveillance video that was recorded inside the restaurant as the shooting unfolded. —Chris Ramirez, Journal Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2024

In 2023, the company recorded revenue of $15.2 million — a 5 percent increase from the previous year. —Natallie Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Apr. 2024

On average, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport records its first 100-degree reading on May 2, with residents getting the last blast of it on Oct. 5, on average, before experiencing a reprieve from the heat. —Caralin Nunes, The Arizona Republic, 19 Apr. 2024

Meanwhile, its semiconductor business—which accounts for about 80% of Samsung’s earnings—recorded a loss of nearly 15 trillion Korean won ($11 billion) last year. —Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 19 Apr. 2024

This case is unique on a number of fronts: Jane Doe secretly recorded her doctor in a private room, presumably by surreptitiously placing the camera somewhere in the room as the recording captures the doctor's movements from behind. —Tresa Baldas, Detroit Free Press, 19 Apr. 2024

After the band fell apart in the late ‘70s (in part over a drug trial involving a band employee), Betts recorded with his group Great Southern, while the Allmans reunited briefly in 1979 and again in 1989, finding renewed critical and chart success and performing at Woodstock ’94. —August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2024

Glass recorded the rendition with producer and longtime collaborator Jupiter Keyes. —Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 18 Apr. 2024

As previously reported by USA TODAY, gift card draining is when fraudsters obtain copies of physical gift cards from stores, tamper with them, then scan and record an unpurchased card's number. —Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024

Adjective

Valuations After a string of record highs for U.S. stocks, some financial advisers see the market as overextended compared with European stocks. —Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 21 Apr. 2024

Although his rhetoric is extreme, undocumented immigrants had a record 2.5 million encounters with border agents in 2023, causing difficulties for many communities. —Benjamin Powell, The Mercury News, 20 Apr. 2024

These laws place trans youth at risk for both self-harm, as shown by record high rates of suicide, as well as abuse or assault from others. —Danielle Marie Holland, Parents, 19 Apr. 2024

That’s down from 245 in 2022 and a record 313 the year before that. —Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 18 Apr. 2024

Michelin, valued at about $26.5 billion, posted record annual profits last year. —Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 18 Apr. 2024

El Paso, Texas, saw a record stretch of 44 consecutive days at or over 100 F in June and July, and Phoenix, Arizona saw a record of 31 days at 110 F or higher. —Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 18 Apr. 2024

Sundance received a record 17,000 film submissions last year. —Matt Donnelly, Variety, 17 Apr. 2024

The recent influx of migrants — the largest in modern American history — reflects not just a broken immigration system unable to handle record encounters at the border with Mexico, but a trend of instability across the Western Hemisphere that bears no signs of relief. —Michael Wilner, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2024

Noun

Designed as a home for independent artists to have their records pressed, the facility features steamless record presses with closed-loop chiller systems, which eradicates the burning of fossil fuels and chemical runoff, while also minimizing water usage. —Katie Bain, Billboard, 22 Apr. 2024

Using a non-confrontational demeanor and focusing on the airline’s French heritage, Smith has been able to successfully transform the former problem-child, Air France, with the group reporting a record profit last year. —Albertina Torsoli, Fortune, 22 Apr. 2024

Fans can now listen to the album — which shattered streaming records after its release on April 19 — along with commentary from Swift breaking down the meaning of each track. —Ellise Shafer, Variety, 22 Apr. 2024

An ultra-rare Split-Seconds (Ref. 4113) hammered down for €3.3 million ($3.5 million) at Monaco Legend Group’s auction on Saturday, setting a new record price for the model. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 22 Apr. 2024

The airport served over 45 million passengers in 2023, a 31% increase compared to the previous year, surpassing the previous record set during the FIFA World Cup. —Hannah Towey, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Apr. 2024

The sale beats the model’s previous record of 2.4 million Swiss francs ($2.6 million) which was paid in 2016 at a Phillips auction in Geneva. —Andy Hoffman, Fortune Europe, 22 Apr. 2024

Whatever the decision, this case won't solve the homelessness problem States and cities across the U.S. have struggled to manage record rates of homelessness. —Jennifer Ludden, NPR, 22 Apr. 2024

Advertisement Only one team in the NL West owned a winning record across the last 10 games as the day began — the Giants at 6-4. —Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Apr. 2024

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

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