recollect

1 of 2

verb (1)

rec·​ol·​lect ˌre-kə-ˈlekt How to pronounce recollect (audio)
recollected; recollecting; recollects
Synonyms of recollectnext

transitive verb

1
: to bring back to the level of conscious awareness : remember
trying to recollect the name
2
: to remind (oneself) of something temporarily forgotten

intransitive verb

: to call something to mind

re-collect

2 of 2

verb (2)

re-col·​lect ˌrē-kə-ˈlekt How to pronounce re-collect (audio)
re-collected; re-collecting; re-collects

transitive verb

: to collect again
especially : rally, recover

Synonyms

Verb (1)

Verb (2)

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
Choose the Right Synonym for recollect

remember, recollect, recall, remind, reminisce mean to bring an image or idea from the past into the mind.

remember implies a keeping in memory that may be effortless or unwilled.

remembers that day as though it were yesterday

recollect implies a bringing back to mind what is lost or scattered.

as near as I can recollect

recall suggests an effort to bring back to mind and often to re-create in speech.

can't recall the words of the song

remind suggests a jogging of one's memory by an association or similarity.

that reminds me of a story

reminisce implies a casual often nostalgic recalling of experiences long past and gone.

old college friends like to reminisce

Examples of recollect in a Sentence

Verb (1) I've been trying to recollect what happened. I don't recollect telling him anything, but maybe I did. She couldn't recollect who had mentioned his name in the first place. From what I recollect, they said four of them were coming. Verb (2) she had to calm down and re-collect herself after being told she had won the lottery I struggled to re-collect the papers the wind had torn from my hands
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
Those losses sank her into a morass of regret and substance use, which spurred a break from the industry to recollect. —Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2024 Some might recollect that two of our last four presidents — George W. Bush and Donald Trump — claimed the White House despite losing the popular vote. —Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2024 But a day after nearly fainting over the financial details, as Joe has recollected, the lead producer in the deal, Harvey Weinstein, got his comeuppance. —Tony Maglio, IndieWire, 4 Oct. 2024 By popping into one of these spots, maybe an old memory of Pizza Hut will be recollected, or maybe a new memory will be made. —Kayleigh Ruller, Charlotte Observer, 24 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for recollect 

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Medieval Latin recollectus, past participle of recolligere, from Latin, to gather again

Verb (2)

partly from Latin recollectus, past participle of recolligere, from re- + colligere to collect; partly from re- + collect

First Known Use

Verb (1)

1559, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Verb (2)

1604, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of recollect was in 1559

Dictionary Entries Near recollect

recoin

recollect

re-collect

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Recollect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recollect. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

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Kids Definition

recollect

1 of 2 verb
rec·​ol·​lect ˌrek-ə-ˈlekt How to pronounce recollect (audio)
1
: to recall to mind : remember
2
: to remind oneself of something temporarily forgotten

re-collect

2 of 2 verb
re-col·​lect
ˌrē-kə-ˈlekt
: to collect again
especially : rally entry 1 sense 2, recover

More from Merriam-Webster on recollect

Nglish: Translation of recollect for Spanish Speakers

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