recall

1 of 2

verb

re·​call ri-ˈkȯl 

recalled; recalling; recalls

transitive verb

1

: cancel, revoke

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

: restore, revive

recallability

ri-ˌkȯ-lə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

recallable

ri-ˈkȯ-lə-bəl 

adjective

recaller noun

recall

2 of 2

noun

re·​call ri-ˈkȯl  ˈrē-ˌkȯl 

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

Synonyms

Verb

• flash back (to)
• hark back (to)
• harken back (to)
• hearken back (to)
• mind [chiefly dialect]
• recollect
• remember
• reminisce (about)
• reproduce
• think (of)

Noun

• anamnesis
• memory
• recollection
• remembrance
• reminiscence

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

According to The Korea Times, in July 2024 Beijing demanded that Pyongyang recall North Korean workers in China—numbered in the tens of thousands—so that China could comply with UN Security Council Resolution 2937, which called for the repatriation of North Korean laborers. —Sungmin Cho, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2024

Viewed from the rear three-quarter angle, the Vanquish recalls an arrow, drawn from its quiver and aimed at the target. —Dan Carney, Popular Science, 7 Nov. 2024

Noun

The recall question led by a nearly 2-to-1 margin with nearly 430,000 votes counted as of Tuesday afternoon. —Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 12 Nov. 2024

Researchers found that during such an experience, some of these LAAs were activated; re-activating the LAAs in a different environment appeared to stimulate recall of the memory and associated learning. —Tom Hawking, Popular Science, 6 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1565, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing recall

• beyond recall
• total recall

Kids Definition

recall

1 of 2 verb

re·​call ri-ˈkȯl 

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

-ˈkȯ-lə-bəl 

adjective

recall

2 of 2 noun

re·​call ri-ˈkȯl  ˈrē-ˌkȯl 

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  ˈrē-ˌ 

: remembrance of what has been previously learned or experienced

recall

ri-ˈkȯl 

transitive verb

Legal Definition

recall

noun

re·​call ri-ˈkȧl, ˈrē-ˌkȯl 

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

ri-ˈkȯl 

transitive verb