recitation

noun

rec·​i·​ta·​tion ˌre-sə-ˈtā-shən 

1

: the act of enumerating

a recitation of relevant details

2

: the act or an instance of reading or repeating aloud especially publicly

3

a

: a student's oral reply to questions

b

: a class period especially in association with and for review of a lecture

Examples of recitation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The memo’s overheated rhetoric and lengthy recitation of political grievances also raise some doubts about his claims. —Benjamin Mazer, The Atlantic, 8 Dec. 2025

At the Erie County Court Building on Friday, the bar admission ceremony opened with a recitation of the Thanksgiving address – an invocation within Indigenous Haudenosaunee communities that gives thanks to the earth and its abundance. —Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 15 Nov. 2025

However, portions of the crowd booed when Trump appeared on the videoboard late in the first half and again during his halftime military oath recitation, according to the Associated Press and video footage from the game. —Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Nov. 2025

Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker deviated from the usual recitation of facts at this year’s State of the City address and instead chose to highlight the stories of individual residents. —Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for recitation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

recitation

noun

rec·​i·​ta·​tion ˌres-ə-ˈtā-shən 

1

: a complete telling or listing of something

2

: the act or an instance of reading or repeating aloud especially before an audience

3

: a student's oral reply to questions