recite

verb

re·​cite ri-ˈsīt 

recited; reciting

transitive verb

1

: to repeat from memory or read aloud publicly

2

a

: to relate in full

recites dull anecdotes

b

: to give a recital of : detail

recited a catalog of offenses

3

: to repeat or answer questions about (a lesson)

intransitive verb

1

: to repeat or read aloud something memorized or prepared

2

: to reply to a teacher's question on a lesson

reciter noun

Synonyms

• chart
• chronicle
• describe
• narrate
• recount
• rehearse
• relate
• report
• tell

Examples of recite in a Sentence

He recited the poem with great feeling.

He began to recite from the Koran.

He can easily recite all the facts about any player on the team.

Recent Examples on the Web

Now Sun Moon Rising Personalized Embroidered Dad Hat Your giftee can save a little time reciting their big three with this cool, custom dad hat. —Sara Coughlin, SELF, 3 Dec. 2024

Or should fans of the film be empowered to lean into the joy and fun, reciting the words to their favorite songs? Wicked star Cynthia Erivo, who plays Elphaba in the record-breaking box office smash, is weighing in on the discussion. —Krystie Lee Yandoli, Rolling Stone, 28 Nov. 2024

Travis would often recite the lyrics to the song following the Kansas City Chiefs' games and during the team's Super Bowl celebrations. —Chantz Martin, Fox News, 24 Nov. 2024

The Taliban has forbidden women from praying loudly or reciting the Quran in front of other women, issued a ban on women’s voices and bare faces in public and closed classrooms to girls from the sixth grade on. —Saba Hamedy, NBC News, 22 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, to relate, state, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French reciter, from Latin recitare to recite, from re- + citare to summon — more at cite

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

recite

verb

re·​cite ri-ˈsīt 

recited; reciting

1

: to repeat from memory or read aloud before an audience

recite a poem

2

: to tell all the details of

3

: to answer questions about a lesson

reciter noun