recount

1 of 3

verb (1)

re·​count ri-ˈkau̇nt 

recounted; recounting; recounts

transitive verb

: to relate in detail : narrate

recounter noun

recount

2 of 3

verb (2)

re·​count (ˌ)rē-ˈkau̇nt 

recounted; recounting; recounts

transitive verb

: to count again

recount

3 of 3

noun

re·​count ˈrē-ˌkau̇nt  (ˌ)rē-ˈkau̇nt 

: a second or fresh count

Synonyms of recount

Verb (1)

• describe
• tell
• narrate
• chronicle
• relate
• report

Examples of recount in a Sentence

Verb (1)

a novel that recounted an American soldier's adventures among the samurai warriors of 19th-century Japan

Noun

The election was very close and the loser demanded a recount.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Prevost has recounted that at one point Bergoglio had expressed interest in assigning an Augustinian priest to a specific job in his archdiocese. —ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026

The film then flashed back to recount the superstar’s life story and build back up to the allegation and the Chandler family’s lawsuit, which Jackson ultimately settled for $23 million before the investigation was closed when the Chandler family stopped cooperating with prosecutors. —Zack Sharf, Variety, 20 Apr. 2026

Noun

As Yarris recounts to Jacki Miles (Thompson), a volunteer for an abolitionist group, for his first two years on death row, speaking wasn’t allowed. —Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026

There are bills for that, the Count Every Vote Act (CEVA), A4307 and S417, clarifying the definition of a margin of victory required for a recount. —Phyllis Tashlik, New York Daily News, 15 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French recunter, from re- + cunter to count, relate — more at count

Verb (2)

re- + count

First Known Use

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1764, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1850, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for recount

• account
• amount
• discount
• dismount
• remount
• seamount
• surmount
• count
• fount
• mount
• rediscount
• subaccount

Kids Definition

recount

1 of 3 verb

re·​count ri-ˈkau̇nt 

: to tell about in detail : narrate

recount an adventure

recount

2 of 3 verb

re·​count (ˈ)rē-ˈkau̇nt 

: to count again

recount

3 of 3 noun

re·​count ˈrē-ˌkau̇nt 

(ˈ)rē-ˈkau̇nt

: a second or fresh count (as of election votes)

Etymology

Verb

Middle English recounten "to tell about," from early French recunter (same meaning), from re- "again" and cunter "relate, count"

Verb

from English re- (prefix) and count