reckoning

noun

reck·​on·​ing ˈre-kə-niŋ 

ˈrek-niŋ

1

: the act or an instance of reckoning: such as

a

: account, bill

b

: computation

c

: calculation of a ship's position

2

: a settling of accounts

day of reckoning

3

: a summing up

Synonyms

• appraisal
• appraisement
• assessment
• estimate
• estimation
• evaluation
• valuation

Examples of reckoning in a Sentence

I was more than $10 off in my reckoning.

When the day of reckoning comes, we will have to face some unpleasant truths.

Our football team hardly comes into the reckoning.

Because of his injury, he is out of the reckoning.

The team is still in the reckoning.

Recent Examples on the Web

Those maneuvers merely postpone the day of reckoning, because the administration and the Legislature’s budget analyst, Gabe Petek, project yearly multibillion-dollar shortfalls indefinitely. —Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2025

Collins is heading for a reckoning with coastal moderates who may have given her a pass in 2020 but will be more suspicious now. —Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 14 Mar. 2025

As far as he’s concerned, the reckoning can’t come fast enough. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 8 Mar. 2025

The pandemic forced a reckoning: workers demanded workplaces that recognize them as full humans, not just employees. —Nirit Cohen, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing reckoning

• by someone's reckoning
• dead reckoning
• hour of reckoning

Rhymes for reckoning

• beckoning

Kids Definition

reckoning

noun

reck·​on·​ing

1

: the act or an instance of calculating

2

: a settling of accounts

day of reckoning