recite

recite — verb

1. to speak a poem, story, or other text aloud after learning it by heart, often wh

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

to speak a poem, story, or other text aloud after learning it by heart, often while performing for an audience; or to read out a list of items one by one.

Example

Kemi stood before her classmates and recited the poem she had learned.

recite + poem as direct object

The children took turns reciting their favorite nursery rhymes.

recite + nursery rhymes / classroom activity

Common collocations
  • recite a poem
  • recite from memory
  • recite a speech
  • recite a prayer
  • recite a list of
Synonyms
  • repeat

    more general; can refer to saying something again without preparation or performance

  • deliver

    more formal; typically used for speeches or formal presentations

  • perform

    broader meaning that includes singing, acting, or playing music

Antonyms
  • improvise

    to speak without preparation, opposite of delivering memorized material

Grammar Patterns

recite + noun phrase (poem/speech/prayer/list)

recite + from memory

recite + without object

Usage Note

Frequently used with direct objects referring to learned texts (poem, speech, prayer, dialogue). Intransitive use (e.g. 'The student recited nervously') implies that the material was prepared beforehand and is being performed.

Common Mistakes

I recited the book silently in my head.
I read the book silently in my head.
Recite means speaking aloud, not reading silently.
She recited me a poem.
She recited a poem to me.
Recite does not take an indirect object without a preposition.

2. to tell someone about a series of events, facts, or experiences in full detail,

2.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to tell someone about a series of events, facts, or experiences in full detail, naming each part in order.

Example

Faisal recited every complaint he had about the neighbour's loud music.

recite + complaint / listing grievances

The old sailor recited the story of the storm that sank his ship.

recite + recounted narrative

Common collocations
  • recite a list of
  • recite the details
  • recite a story
  • recite the events
  • recite complaints
Synonyms
  • narrate

    more common for storytelling; implies a flowing, connected story rather than a list

  • recount

    similar in formality; emphasises telling in order of occurrence

  • relate

    slightly more formal; can be used for both facts and stories

Antonyms
  • summarize

    to give only the main points rather than every detail

Grammar Patterns

recite + noun phrase (list/complaint/details)

recite + to + audience

Usage Note

Always transitive. The object is typically a detailed account, list of items, or sequence of facts. More formal than tell or describe — use recite when the speaker is going point by point rather than giving a general summary.

Common Mistakes

He recited about the accident.
He recited the details of the accident.
Recite needs a direct object; do not use it with 'about' like you would with 'talk'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Repeat is the broadest of the three: you can repeat a word, a sound, or a sentence without having memorised it — it simply means saying something again. Deliver is more formal and usually refers to giving a prepared speech, presentation, or lecture to an audience; it emphasises the act of presenting rather than saying from memory. Recite specifically means speaking aloud from memory, often with a performance element. For example, a student recites a poem she has learned by heart; a CEO delivers a keynote address; a toddler repeats a word her mother just said.

repeat ↗deliver ↗recite ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • recite by heart
  • recite in unison
  • recite aloud
  • recite word for word

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Recite comes from the Latin word recitare, meaning 'to read out loud'. It is made of two parts: re- (meaning 'again') and citare (meaning 'to summon or call forth'). So the original sense was 'to call forth again' — bringing words from memory to be spoken aloud.