recall 1 of 2

recall

2 of 2

noun

1
as in recollection
a particular act or instance of recalling or the thing remembered his recall of the events of that turbulent time is significantly different from the accounts of other eyewitnesses

Synonyms & Similar Words

2

Synonym Chooser

How is the word recall distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of recall are recollect, remember, remind, and reminisce. While all these words mean "to bring an image or idea from the past into the mind," recall suggests an effort to bring back to mind and often to re-create in speech.

can't recall the words of the song

In what contexts can recollect take the place of recall?

The words recollect and recall are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, recollect implies a bringing back to mind what is lost or scattered.

as near as I can recollect

When can remember be used instead of recall?

The meanings of remember and recall largely overlap; however, remember implies a keeping in memory that may be effortless or unwilled.

remembers that day as though it were yesterday

When is it sensible to use remind instead of recall?

Although the words remind and recall have much in common, remind suggests a jogging of one's memory by an association or similarity.

that reminds me of a story

When could reminisce be used to replace recall?

While in some cases nearly identical to recall, reminisce implies a casual often nostalgic recalling of experiences long past and gone.

old college friends like to reminisce

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of recall
Verb
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued multiple recalls last week, including notices for certain Jeep vehicles. James Powel, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025 Anyone following the world of wheels - or bought a Blazer in the last two years - will know the Chevy Blazer EV had a series of unfortunate electronic glitches in 2024, so much so that it was even recalled until GM could do an overhaul. Josh Max, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
Proof of residence or identification is not required for citizens to register to vote in state elections or cast ballots in state elections, which was how Maya’s vote counted in the recall election of Newsom, which was voted down by nearly 62% of voters. Nathaniel Percy, Oc Register, 6 Sep. 2025 In each city, crime increased until the DAs were removed by election or recall. John Scott Lewinski, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for recall
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recall
Verb
  • Dockery remembers Smith’s wit and sardonic humor on set—and her own Dowagerisms—fondly.
    Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 11 Sep. 2025
  • In fact, there’s a whole lot from shortly before the accident that Daniel doesn’t remember; their walk through the old church, for example.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In the last few years, Beyoncé, Pink, and Noah Kahan, among others, have had concerts canceled or delayed by extreme lightning, rain, or wildfire smoke.
    David Browne, Rolling Stone, 6 Sep. 2025
  • On social media, Marquette announced that all athletic events for the weekend would be canceled, and a special mass for the school community was held on Saturday afternoon.
    Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Like her other books comprising private connections and recollections, Romano preferred to call Le parole a novel rather than a memoir or autobiography, seeing the distinction between fact and fiction as an irrelevant one for literature.
    Brian Robert Moore September 5, Literary Hub, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Amparo Heredia has a vivid recollection of her parents performing in what was Miami’s vibrant Flamenco scene in the 1980s when many tablaos dotted the city.
    Emily Cardenas, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Needless to say, progressive Democrats did not respond to those companies’ overtures by abandoning Trader Joe’s and prosecco to guzzle Buds at Wally World.
    Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
  • The Commission was also unimpressed by Jackson continuing to promote SPIS’ data around the location on the pitch and timing of Paqueta’s bookings during the game during cross-examination, despite the fact that the FA had abandoned this evidence.
    Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • While Netanyahu is ageing, his memory is not at fault here.
    MSNBC Newsweek, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Listening to a Swift song is like eating a candy bar that transmits a personal essay into your memory.
    Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The decision also underscores the risks of vocal injury for artists performing demanding live shows night after night, a reality discussed in coverage of other recent touring cancellations.
    Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Neville said he's noticed many boutique and family-run hotels, especially in high-demand spots like Dubrovnik, Prague, and Santorini, booking out earlier than ever, requiring full deposits up front, and enforcing strict cancellation policies.
    Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • But then Belly scraps her Parisian plans and pledges her young life to Jeremiah, a rising super senior at Finch majoring in getting high and going to Cabo (which, quite honestly, is more age-appropriate than a wedding).
    Vogue, Vogue, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Watertown, though, kept scrapping enough together inside the circle to prevent a game-tying goal, while speedy senior captain Sophia Setouhi and Master led a couple promising charges into offensive territory.
    Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • But the new leadership team, headed by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), all voted against the House’s 2021 AUMF repeal bill and did not have an appetite to bring it up last year.
    Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The senator also called for the full repeal of Section 230.
    Julia Shapero, The Hill, 5 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Recall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recall. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.

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