recount

1 of 3

verb (1)

re·​count ri-ˈkau̇nt How to pronounce recount (audio)
recounted; recounting; recounts

transitive verb

: to relate in detail : narrate
recounter noun

recount

2 of 3

verb (2)

re·​count (ˌ)rē-ˈkau̇nt How to pronounce recount (audio)
recounted; recounting; recounts

transitive verb

: to count again

recount

3 of 3

noun

re·​count ˈrē-ˌkau̇nt How to pronounce recount (audio)
(ˌ)rē-ˈkau̇nt
: a second or fresh count

Examples of recount in a Sentence

Verb (1) a novel that recounted an American soldier's adventures among the samurai warriors of 19th-century Japan Noun The election was very close and the loser demanded a recount.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Larsen recounts, recalling his location-scouting mission in October when his organization became interested in al fresco theater. Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 7 May 2025 In a video posted to TikTok earlier this week, Hailey recounted what happened next. Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 May 2025
Noun
Even with such a narrow margin, Iverson decided not to push for a recount. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2025 The close nature of the race could also lead to a recount, with county policy mandating an automatic review for contests with a margin of victory less than .25% or where that margin is less than 25 total votes. Devan Patel, Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for recount

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French recunter, from re- + cunter to count, relate — more at count

Verb (2)

re- + count

First Known Use

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1764, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1850, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of recount was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Recount.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recount. Accessed 12 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

recount

1 of 3 verb
re·​count ri-ˈkau̇nt How to pronounce recount (audio)
: to tell about in detail : narrate
recount an adventure

recount

2 of 3 verb
re·​count (ˈ)rē-ˈkau̇nt How to pronounce recount (audio)
: to count again

recount

3 of 3 noun
re·​count ˈrē-ˌkau̇nt How to pronounce recount (audio)
(ˈ)rē-ˈkau̇nt
: a second or fresh count (as of election votes)
Etymology

Verb

Middle English recounten "to tell about," from early French recunter (same meaning), from re- "again" and cunter "relate, count"

Verb

from English re- (prefix) and count

More from Merriam-Webster on recount

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