recall

1 of 2

verb

re·​call ri-ˈkȯl How to pronounce recall (audio)
recalled; recalling; recalls

transitive verb

1
2
a
: to call back
was recalled to active duty
a pitcher recalled from the minors
b
: to bring back to mind
recalled seeing her somewhere before
c
: to remind one of : resemble
a playwright who recalls the Elizabethan dramatists
3
recallability noun
recallable adjective
recaller noun

recall

2 of 2

noun

1
: a call to return
a recall of workers after a layoff
2
: the right or procedure by which an official may be removed by vote of the people
3
: remembrance of what has been learned or experienced
4
: the act of revoking
5
: a public call by a manufacturer for the return of a product that may be defective or contaminated
Choose the Right Synonym for recall

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 recall in a Sentence

Verb She wanted to send him a letter but couldn't recall his address. I don't recall what time they said they would be here. It is important to recall that not very long ago cell phones did not exist. From what I recall, I think the library is two blocks down on the left. “The first time we met,” he recalled, “we got into a big argument.” As you may recall, we had agreed that decisions would require prior approval. “What's his address?” “I don't recall.” The ambassador was recalled from abroad. The factory is recalling all the cars because of a problem with the brakes. Officials recalled two tons of contaminated meat today. Noun They issued a recall of workers after the layoff. The factory has issued a recall of all cars with the defective brakes. She did mental exercises meant to improve her recall.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Fahs recalls overlooking the hospital grounds and seeing tents of families who left with the clothes on their backs and, if lucky, a suitcase with extra items. Detroit Free Press, 23 Mar. 2024 In the past, tattoo inks have very rarely, and only voluntarily, been recalled because of bacterial contamination. John Swierk, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2024 Padukone also recalls a funny memory of the director being influenced by her home’s style. Natalia Senanayake, Peoplemag, 22 Mar. 2024 Radu’s road-movie premise recalls Jean-Luc Godard’s apocalyptic Weekend (1968), once considered Godard’s greatest film, before dystopian movies became comic-book escapism. Armond White, National Review, 22 Mar. 2024 While many remember its fun attractions, including The Wildcat roller coaster and Fairyland Twin Drive-In theaters, others recall the exclusion of Black people from the park. Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024 The judge recalled firing an M16 at targets of human silhouettes. Rachel Weiner, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024 On March 11, Hanson’s Taylor Hanson recalled how early attempts to engage with fans online led to the band’s website becoming one of the most trafficked of the late ‘90s. Spin Contributor, SPIN, 22 Mar. 2024 Lomax, who goes by OG Poppy among his fellow tattoo artists, recalled coming to North Texas and trying to find a shop to fit his Afro-conscious or Afro-centric tattoo style. Jenny Rudolph, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Mar. 2024
Noun
The airbag inflators involved in this recall were not installed in any other Stellantis models, according to the documents. Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN, 22 Mar. 2024 Dissolving the district would require a two-thirds majority of voters, an uphill climb given the recall. Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024 Likewise, a study published in Nature last year found that people’s recall of the severity of the 2020 COVID threat was biased by their attitudes toward vaccines months or years later. George Makari, The Atlantic, 21 Mar. 2024 Trader Joe's Anyone with questions about the recall can email Wenders at foodsafety@wendersllc.com. Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2024 That seemed to indicate momentum in the recall movement, experts said at the time. Shomik Mukherjee, The Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2024 The automaker recalled more than 6.1 million vehicles across 56 recalls last year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. William Gavin, Quartz, 4 Mar. 2024 Ground cinnamon voluntary recall:Products sold at Dollar Tree, more may contain lead Allen Park Caribou Coffee hours are 5:30 a.m.-8 p.m. daily. Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 11 Mar. 2024 However, recall: UCLA’s title in 1995; Stanford’s impressive showings in the late 1990s; and Arizona’s title in 1997 and yearly top-10 play. Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'recall.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1565, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of recall was in 1565

Dictionary Entries Near recall

Cite this Entry

“Recall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recall. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

recall

1 of 2 verb
re·​call ri-ˈkȯl How to pronounce recall (audio)
1
: cancel sense 2a, revoke
recalled the order
2
a
: to call back
soldiers recalled to active duty
recalled cars with brake problems
b
: to bring back to mind : remember
recalled seeing her somewhere before
recallable adjective

recall

2 of 2 noun
1
: a command to return
2
: a way in which a public official may be removed from office by vote of the people
3
: remembrance of what has been learned or experienced
4
: the act of canceling (as an order)
5
: a call by a manufacturer for the return of a product that may be defective or contaminated

Medical Definition

recall

noun
re·​call ri-ˈkȯl How to pronounce recall (audio) ˈrē-ˌ How to pronounce recall (audio)
: remembrance of what has been previously learned or experienced
recall transitive verb

Legal Definition

recall

noun
1
: a call to return
a recall of workers
2
: the right or procedure by which an official may be removed by vote of the people
a recall petition
3
: the act of revoking
4
: a public call by a manufacturer for the return of a defective or especially unsafe product
recall transitive verb

More from Merriam-Webster on recall

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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