recall 1 of 2

verb

ri-ˈkȯl How to pronounce recall (audio)
Definition of recallnext
1
as in to remember
to bring back to mind I don't recall meeting you before

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Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to cancel
to put an end to (something planned or previously agreed to) I'll recall my purchase order if the company refuses to guarantee that it'll arrive before Christmas

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

recall

2 of 2

noun

ri-ˈkȯl How to pronounce recall (audio)
1
as in recollection
a particular act or instance of recalling or the thing remembered his recall of the events of that turbulent time is significantly different from the accounts of other eyewitnesses

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in cancelation
the act of putting an end to something planned or previously agreed to we can't get a refund on the plane tickets, so the trip is beyond recall

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word recall distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of recall are recollect, remember, remind, and reminisce. While all these words mean "to bring an image or idea from the past into the mind," recall suggests an effort to bring back to mind and often to re-create in speech.

can't recall the words of the song

In what contexts can recollect take the place of recall?

The words recollect and recall are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, recollect implies a bringing back to mind what is lost or scattered.

as near as I can recollect

When can remember be used instead of recall?

The meanings of remember and recall largely overlap; however, remember implies a keeping in memory that may be effortless or unwilled.

remembers that day as though it were yesterday

When is it sensible to use remind instead of recall?

Although the words remind and recall have much in common, remind suggests a jogging of one's memory by an association or similarity.

that reminds me of a story

When could reminisce be used to replace recall?

While in some cases nearly identical to recall, reminisce implies a casual often nostalgic recalling of experiences long past and gone.

old college friends like to reminisce

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of recall
Verb
The Royals recalled right-handed pitcher Jonathan Bowlan in a corresponding move. —Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 27 July 2025 Darwin Barney, Shaw recalls with a chuckle, snubbed him for an autograph. —Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 27 July 2025
Noun
No other New Mexico Piñon Coffee products are affected by this recall. —Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 25 July 2025 The manufacturer Mondelēz Global LLC announced the voluntary recall on July 8. —Alia Shoaib, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for recall
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recall
  1. remember
  2. cancel
  3. recollection
  4. abandon
  5. memory
  6. cancellation
  7. scrap
  8. revoke
Verb
  • Sonora remembers nervously cleaning the house while her mother locked herself in her bedroom, refusing to even come out and talk to the police.
    — Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 4 Aug. 2025
  • The movements up and down are evidence of neither inflation nor deflation when it’s remembered that a rising price signals fewer dollars for other purchases, and a falling price signals more.
    — John Tamny, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2025
Definition of remember
Verb
  • Timberlake has had to cancel multiple dates on the tour.
    — Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 31 July 2025
  • Eleven months ago, Queens of the Stone Age cancelled all the remaining dates on their 2024 tour to allow singer Josh Homme to focus on his health.
    — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 31 July 2025
Definition of cancel
Noun
  • The trial featured disagreements about key facts and recollections.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 24 July 2025
  • Though Osbourne’s recollections of the matter changed frequently, this fact remains unambiguous.
    — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 23 July 2025
Definition of recollection
Verb
  • More than 55 years ago, three astronauts en route to the moon had to abandon their dreams of reaching the lunar surface when their spacecraft encountered some serious trouble.
    — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 28 July 2025
  • Minority languages were banned in schools, tribal leaders were silenced, and communities were pressured to abandon their heritage and conform to a rigid Persian identity.
    — Jila Andalib, Hartford Courant, 28 July 2025
Definition of abandon
Noun
  • The couple, who began dating in April 2023, have frequently toasted their relationship highlights and shared milestone memories on Instagram.
    — Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 14 July 2025
  • Executive function refers to skills like working memory, cognitive flexibility and inhibition control.
    — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 14 July 2025
Definition of memory
Noun
  • Operations returned to normal Saturday morning, with only 35 delays and 31 cancellations reported.
    — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 2 Aug. 2025
  • The slow confirmation process has prompted some Republican senators, like Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), to call for the cancellation of recess.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 1 Aug. 2025
Definition of cancellation
Verb
  • But in June, the city officially scrapped its plans for the art installation after declining to immediately remove lead found in the tower, Johnson said in a Wednesday phone interview.
    — Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 1 Aug. 2025
  • An unusual rollout plan to release the sequel just seven weeks after the first was scrapped after the movie, made for roughly $100 million, grossed $38 million worldwide.
    — Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 1 Aug. 2025
Definition of scrap
Verb
  • The bill would revoke an exemption on ADS-B transmission requests for Department of Defense aircraft.
    — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 31 July 2025
  • De Moraes revoked Bolsonaro’s passport and issued additional punishments to the leader who allegedly staged a coup with several dozen others following his 2022 electoral loss to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
    — Kristina Karisch, The Hill, 31 July 2025
Definition of revoke

Browse Nearby Words

recalculating
recall
recalled
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Cite this Entry

“Recall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recall. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on recall

Nglish: Translation of recall for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about recall

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