record
record — verb
1. to capture sounds, moving images, or data using electronic equipment such that t
to capture sounds, moving images, or data using electronic equipment such that the material can be played back or watched later
Haruto used his phone to record the entire concert from the front row.
record + noun phrase (concert, video, song)
The sound engineer asked the choir to record the chorus one more time.
Our new security camera can record clear video even in very low light.
record + noun phrase as object
Aylin keeps a small voice recorder on her desk to record meeting notes.
- record a song
- record a video
- record an interview
- record a podcast
- record a lecture
Grammar Patterns
record + noun phrase
record + that-clause
Usage Note
Can be used transitively (record a video) or intransitively (the camera is recording). Frequently occurs with nouns like song, video, podcast, interview, lecture.
Common Mistakes
2. to write down, type, or otherwise store information permanently so that a future
to write down, type, or otherwise store information permanently so that a future reference exists
The secretary recorded every decision the committee made during the meeting.
record + noun phrase (decision, fact, detail)
Scientists record weather data at the same time each day for accuracy.
Kofi recorded the names of all volunteers in a notebook before the event.
record + noun phrase in + location
The librarian recorded the overdue books in the computer system.
The officer recorded that the driver had not been wearing a seat belt.
record + that-clause
- record data
- record details
- record facts
- record events
- record information
- record the results
- omit
to leave out information deliberately or accidentally
Grammar Patterns
record + noun phrase
record + that-clause
record + wh-clause
Usage Note
The object is typically information (data, details, facts, events) rather than media. Commonly used in formal, administrative, or scientific contexts.
Common Mistakes
3. if a measuring instrument records a number or amount, it detects and displays th
if a measuring instrument records a number or amount, it detects and displays that value
The thermometer recorded a temperature of thirty-eight degrees during the heatwave.
instrument + recorded + measurement
The earthquake sensor recorded a magnitude of six point three on the scale.
Our electricity meter recorded a sharp increase in usage last month.
The speed camera recorded the car travelling at over one hundred kilometres an hour.
record + noun phrase + verb-ing
- record a temperature
- record a reading
- record a level
- record an increase
Grammar Patterns
record + noun phrase (measurement)
Usage Note
Subject is always an instrument or device (thermometer, meter, gauge, sensor), never a person. The object is a numerical value or the entity being measured.
record — noun
1. a written or computer-based document that preserves information about an event,
a written or computer-based document that preserves information about an event, fact, or activity for later use
The hospital keeps a record of all patients who visit the emergency room.
keep a record of + noun phrase
Jude asked the hotel for a record of his past stays for his expense report.
The census bureau maintains public records of population changes every ten years.
public records (common collocation)
The archivist found a handwritten record of the town's founding from eighteen ninety-two.
Each student's academic record includes their grades and attendance history.
academic record (common collocation)
- keep a record
- maintain a record
- public record
- academic record
- medical record
- a record of
Grammar Patterns
keep a record of something
a record of + noun phrase
Usage Note
Often paired with verbs like keep, maintain, create, produce. The preposition of introduces the content (a record of the meeting).
Common Mistakes
2. information kept by an official organisation about a person's health, behaviour,
information kept by an official organisation about a person's health, behaviour, or legal history
The doctor checked Tamar's medical record before prescribing the new medicine.
medical record (common collocation)
Christopher was worried that the arrest would stay on his criminal record forever.
criminal record (common collocation)
The clinic transferred Dewi's dental record to her new dentist across town.
Drivers with a clean driving record may qualify for a lower insurance rate.
clean driving record (common collocation)
- criminal record
- medical record
- dental record
- driving record
- clean record
Grammar Patterns
criminal record
medical record
driving record
Usage Note
Almost always appears with a modifier that specifies the type: criminal record, medical record, driving record. A 'clean' record means no problems; a 'record' by itself in this sense implies a criminal record.
Common Mistakes
3. all the known facts about someone's or something's past achievements, behaviour,
all the known facts about someone's or something's past achievements, behaviour, or performance over a period of time
The construction company has an excellent safety record with no major accidents.
safety record (common collocation)
Investors were impressed by the fund manager's record of steady annual returns.
record of + noun phrase
Karim's academic record earned him a scholarship to study engineering at a top university.
The restaurant's record of customer complaints worried the new owner.
Anjali's voting record shows that she has supported every education bill in the past decade.
voting record (common collocation)
- safety record
- track record
- academic record
- voting record
- record of achievement
- proven record
- track record
emphatic synonym; implies a proven pattern over time
- history
broader; can refer to any past events, not just achievements
- reputation
what others think of someone based on their record
Grammar Patterns
record of + noun phrase
possessive + record
Usage Note
Often used in professional or evaluative contexts about companies, employees, athletes, or public figures. Frequently paired with adjectives like excellent, proven, strong, poor, mixed.
4. the official or public documentation of what has been said, used mainly in fixed
the official or public documentation of what has been said, used mainly in fixed phrases to indicate whether a statement is formal and attributable or informal and private
For the record, I strongly disagree with the board's decision to cut funding.
for the record (fixed phrase)
The CEO stated for the record that the company had followed all safety regulations.
stated for the record (formal)
Let the record show that the defendant chose to remain silent during questioning.
let the record show (legal phrase)
The journalist agreed to speak only off the record about the internal dispute.
off the record (idiomatic phrase)
- for the record
- on the record
- off the record
- let the record show
- put on the record
Grammar Patterns
for the record
on the record
off the record
let the record show
Usage Note
This sense only appears in fixed expressions. 'For the record' introduces a statement the speaker wants officially noted. 'On the record' means the statement may be quoted publicly. 'Off the record' means it must not be published. 'Let the record show' is used in courtrooms and formal meetings.
5. a black plastic disc containing grooves from which sound can be played back on a
a black plastic disc containing grooves from which sound can be played back on a turntable
Haruto's grandfather gave him a collection of jazz records from the nineteen sixties.
collection of records
The record shop on Main Street specialises in vintage vinyl albums.
She gently placed the record on the turntable and lowered the needle.
placed the record on the turntable
Collectors paid over two hundred dollars for the rare Beatles record at auction.
- play a record
- vinyl record
- record player
- record shop
- record collection
- put on a record
Grammar Patterns
play a record
a record of + music/artist
on record
Usage Note
Historically this referred to vinyl discs, but in modern usage it can also refer generally to any physical music format. The terms vinyl and LP are more specific.
6. a song, piece of music, or album that has been professionally recorded and made
a song, piece of music, or album that has been professionally recorded and made available to the public for purchase or streaming
The band's new record reached number one on the charts in its first week.
new record + chart position
Élise downloaded the singer's latest record from the streaming platform.
The record label released the debut record of the teenage pianist last spring.
record label + release a record
Critics praised the album as the best jazz record of the decade so far.
- new record
- debut record
- latest record
- record label
- release a record
- chart-topping record
Grammar Patterns
record + verb (reaches, sells)
release a record
Usage Note
In modern music contexts, record can refer to any release regardless of format (vinyl, CD, digital download, streaming). Distinguish from noun sense 5 (VINYL DISC) which refers specifically to the physical object.
Common Mistakes
❌ 'I bought the new record by Taylor Swift on vinyl and also the record by her on CD.' — This mixing of senses can confuse learners; clarify: 'I bought Taylor Swift's latest album on vinyl and also her new single on CD.'
7. an achievement that is better, higher, faster, or more extreme than any previous
an achievement that is better, higher, faster, or more extreme than any previous one, especially in competitive contexts
The Jamaican sprinter broke the world record in the one-hundred-metre dash.
break a/the record (common verb collocation)
Sumin set a new school record for the longest jump in the competition.
set a record (common verb collocation)
The company reported a record profit of five billion dollars this financial year.
The marathon runner attempted to beat her own personal record in the race.
personal record (common collocation)
Last winter brought record snowfall that closed the mountain roads for days.
record + noun (record snowfall, record temperatures)
- set a record
- break a record
- beat a record
- world record
- personal record
- record profit
- record sales
- record high
- best
simpler term; less specific about being an official measured achievement
- personal best
specifically an individual's own top performance
- benchmark
a standard against which others are measured, not necessarily the highest
Grammar Patterns
set a record
break a record
hold a record
world record
Usage Note
Common verb partners: set, break, beat, hold, achieve, establish. 'World record' is for global bests in sport. 'Personal record' or 'personal best' is for an individual's own best. In business, 'record profits/sales' uses record as a modifier.
Common Mistakes
This phrase is used to emphasize that you want your statement to be officially noted or remembered.
For the record, I never agreed to that plan.
Just for the record, Sara arrived before the meeting started.
like a broken record
idiomThis describes someone who keeps repeating the same thing in an annoying way.
Maya sounds like a broken record when she complains about homework.
Stop being like a broken record and say something new.
a matter of record
idiomThis refers to something that is officially recorded and known to be true.
His promotion is a matter of record in the company files.
The court decision is a matter of record and cannot be denied.
off the record
idiomIf you say something off the record, you do not want it to be publicly repeated or officially noted.
Off the record, Diego admitted he made a mistake.
The manager spoke off the record about the new policy.
This means to state something publicly or officially so that it can be written down and repeated.
Aiden went on record as supporting the new law.
The CEO put her concerns on record during the meeting.
This means to correct a false belief by providing the correct information.
Let me put the record straight: I never said that.
Mia set the record straight about her role in the project.
record — adjective
1. greater in amount, level, or degree than any previous time; describing something
greater in amount, level, or degree than any previous time; describing something that is the highest or best ever achieved
The music festival saw a record number of visitors this summer.
record number of (common pattern)
The company announced record sales for the third consecutive quarter.
record sales (common collocation)
The country experienced record temperatures during the July heatwave.
A record crowd of over eighty thousand fans attended the championship match.
record crowd (common collocation)
- record number
- record level
- record sales
- record profits
- record temperatures
- record crowd
- record high
- unprecedented
more formal; suggests something has never happened before at all
- all-time high
colloquial phrase meaning the highest level ever
- all-time low
the lowest level ever recorded
Grammar Patterns
record + noun
Usage Note
This adjective is always used before a noun (attributive) and has no comparative or superlative form. It is not the same as recorded. Common with nouns like number, level, sales, profits, temperatures, crowd, attendance.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- recordernounB1
- recordingnounB1
- recordedadjectiveB1
- recordableadjectiveC1
- unrecordedadjectiveC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/2
Record suggests preserving information in a permanent, systematic way for future reference. Document is more formal and implies creating a thorough written account, often with supporting evidence — you document an experiment's procedure, but you record its temperature readings. Log specifically means recording events in a chronological sequence, like a ship's captain logging daily positions or a programmer logging error messages. Register is the most formal of the group, used for official lists and legal systems (register a birth, register a trademark). Note down is the least formal, suggesting a quick, informal jotting for personal use. Choose record for neutral, systematic preservation; document for thorough, evidence-backed accounts; log for time-ordered entries; register for official records; and note down for quick personal notes.
Common collocations
Adverbs
Phrases
- keep a record
- set a record
- break a record
- hold a record
- on record
- off the record
- for the record
- matter of record
Etymology
Record comes from the Latin verb recordari, meaning 'to remember' or 'to call to mind' — formed from re- (again) and cor (heart or mind). In ancient times, the heart was seen as the seat of memory. The word entered English through Anglo-Norman French in the 13th century, first as a verb meaning 'to commit to memory' or 'to repeat aloud.' By the 14th century it had taken on the modern sense of 'writing something down so it is not forgotten.' The noun senses emerged around the same time, and the 'best achievement' meaning appeared in the 19th century with organised sports.