Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense recites, present participle reciting, past tense, past participle recited
1. verb
When someone recites a poem or other piece of writing, they say it aloud after they have learned it.
They recited poetry to one another. [VERB noun]
[Also VERB]
Synonyms: perform, relate, deliver, repeat More Synonyms of recite
2. verb
If you recite something such as a list, you say it aloud.
All he could do was recite a list of Government failings. [VERB noun]
She suddenly realized that Wim was reciting Kirk's telephone number. [VERB noun]
More Synonyms of recite
recite in British English
(rɪˈsaɪt)
verb
1.
to repeat (a poem, passage, etc) aloud from memory before an audience, teacher, etc
2. (transitive)
to give a detailed account of
3. (transitive)
to enumerate (examples, etc)
Derived forms
recitable (reˈcitable)
adjective
reciter (reˈciter)
noun
Word origin
C15: from Latin recitāre to cite again, from re- + citāre to summon; see cite
recite in American English
(rɪˈsaɪt)
verb transitiveWord forms: reˈcited or reˈciting
1.
to repeat or say aloud from or as from memory, esp. in a formal way; give a recitation on (a lesson) in class or of (a poem, speech, etc.) before an audience
2.
to tell in detail; give an account of; narrate; relate
3.
to enumerate
verb intransitive
4.
to repeat or say aloud something memorized
5. US
to recite a lesson or part of a lesson in a class
Derived forms
reciter (reˈciter)
noun
Word origin
ME reciten < OFr reciter < L recitare: see re- & cite
Examples of 'recite' in a sentence
recite
They turned out to be reciting poetry.
The Times Literary Supplement (2010)
The time of reciting poetry and flirting soon finished.
The Times Literary Supplement (2008)
Need a reason to learn to recite poetry by heart?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Actors will sit inside and recite poetry to punters.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Well into his eighties he could recite guest lists from parties he had been to long ago.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
She could be reciting a shopping list.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He was jailed for reciting a poem.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Parents should be so familiar with the list that they can recite it from memory.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
All the men were outside dancing and reciting poetry and the women were indoors having no less fun.
The Sun (2016)
It was made more painful by an elf asking you to recite the various poems on your passport to let you in.
The Sun (2013)
In the sittings she'd often talk about literature with her father and he would recite poetry to her.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Trials could be held this summer and by September the competition could be open for pupils to memorise two poems and recite them aloud.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
I tried the first page of my manuscript and abandoned it; it was like reciting poetry to a wall.
Christianity Today (2000)
Friends thought him charming, courteous and shrewd, and admired his ability to recite poetry.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He would always recite a passage from Psalm 144 on his walk to the ring.
The Sun (2015)
The dash to Islington to recite a poem on war's futility.
The Sun (2015)
In Seoul she recited poems in fluent Korean to schoolchildren.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The aim is to revive pupils' interest in reciting poetry in public, rather than simply reading it in class.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
My approach in the performance as to whether I read from the book in front of me or recite it from memory changes all the time.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
And so he devised a new game, which was to make Danlo recite as many poems as he could for as longas he could.
Zindell, David The Broken God (1993)
In other languages
recite
British English: recite VERB
When someone recites a poem or other piece of writing, they say it aloud after they have learned it.
They recited poetry to one another.
American English: recite
Brazilian Portuguese: recitar
Chinese: 出声背诵
European Spanish: recitar
French: réciter
German: vortragen
Italian: recitare
Japanese: 暗唱する
Korean: 암송하다
European Portuguese: recitar
Latin American Spanish: recitar
Chinese translation of 'recite'
recite
(rɪˈsaɪt)
vt
[poem]背诵(誦) (bèisòng)
(= enumerate)[complaints etc]列举(舉) (lièjǔ)
1 (verb)
Definition
to repeat (a poem or passage) aloud from memory before an audience
They recited poetry to one another.
Synonyms
perform
relate
deliver
repeat
I repeated the story to a delighted audience.
rehearse
Anticipate any tough questions and rehearse your answers.
declaim
He used to declaim verse to us with immense energy.
recapitulate
Let's just recapitulate the essential points.
do your party piece (informal)
2 (verb)
Definition
to give a detailed account of
I simply recited the names of a number of Chinese cities I knew.
Synonyms
recount
He then recounted the story.
list
The students were asked to list their favourite sports.
enumerate
She enumerated all the reasons why she wanted to travel for a year.
itemize
a fully itemized phone bill
tell
He told his story to a national newspaper.
speak
detail
The report detailed the changes that would be implemented.
describe
We asked her to describe what she had seen.
relate
He was relating a story he had once heard.
repeat
narrate
The film is a story about power, narrated by an old sailor.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of declaim
Definition
to speak loudly and dramatically
He used to declaim verse to us with immense energy.
Synonyms
speak,
lecture,
proclaim,
recite,
rant,
harangue,
hold forth,
spiel (informal),
orate,
perorate
in the sense of describe
Definition
to give an account of (something or someone) in words
We asked her to describe what she had seen.
Synonyms
relate,
tell,
report,
present,
detail,
explain,
express,
illustrate,
set out,
specify,
chronicle,
recount,
recite,
impart,
narrate,
set forth,
give an account of,
put in words
in the sense of detail
Definition
to list fully
The report detailed the changes that would be implemented.
Synonyms
list,
describe,
relate,
catalogue,
portray,
specify,
depict,
recount,
rehearse,
recite,
narrate,
delineate,
enumerate,
itemize,
tabulate,
particularize
Nearby words of
recite
reciprocate
recital
recitation
recite
reckless
reckon
reckon on or upon something
Synonyms of 'recite'
recite
Explore 'recite' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of enumerate
Definition
to name or list one by one
She enumerated all the reasons why she wanted to travel for a year.
Synonyms
list,
tell,
name,
detail,
relate,
mention,
quote,
cite,
specify,
spell out,
recount,
recite,
itemize,
recapitulate
in the sense of itemize
Definition
to put on a list or make a list of
a fully itemized phone bill
Synonyms
list,
record,
detail,
count,
document,
instance,
set out,
specify,
inventory,
number,
enumerate,
particularize
in the sense of list
Definition
to include in a list
The students were asked to list their favourite sports.
Synonyms
itemize,
record,
note,
enter,
file,
schedule,
index,
register,
catalogue,
write down,
enrol,
set down,
enumerate,
note down,
tabulate
in the sense of narrate
Definition
to tell (a story)
The film is a story about power, narrated by an old sailor.
Synonyms
tell,
recount,
report,
detail,
describe,
relate,
unfold,
chronicle,
recite,
set forth
in the sense of recapitulate
Definition
to restate the main points of (an argument or speech)
Let's just recapitulate the essential points.
Synonyms
restate,
review,
repeat,
outline,
sum up,
recount,
reiterate (formal),
run over,
summarize,
epitomize,
recap (informal),
go over again,
run through again
in the sense of rehearse
Definition
to practise (a play, concert, etc.) for public performance
Anticipate any tough questions and rehearse your answers.
Synonyms
recite,
practise,
go over,
run through,
tell,
list,
detail,
describe,
review,
relate,
depict,
spell out,
recount,
narrate,
trot out (informal),
delineate,
enumerate
in the sense of relate
Definition
to tell (a story) or describe (an event)
He was relating a story he had once heard.
Synonyms
tell,
recount,
report,
present,
detail,
describe,
chronicle,
rehearse,
recite,
impart,
narrate,
set forth,
give an account of
in the sense of repeat
Definition
to tell to another person (the secrets told to one by someone else)