Recollect Meaning
/ɹɛkəˈlɛkt/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo recall; to collect one's thoughts again, especially about past events.
verbTo collect (things) together again.
Sentence Examples
I can't recollect how to do it.
I recollect his saying so.
Ziri froze, but he managed to recollect himself.
CEFR Practice Quiz
He tried to ____ the details of the conversation but could only remember a few words.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He struggled to ____ the exact sequence of events that had led to the accident.
Word Origin & History
Borrowed from Medieval Latin recollectus (“remembered, composed”), from Latin recolligo (“gather again, recover”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"I recollect taking a very poor view of the apparently inadequate cabs of the Stirling engines, as compared with those of the Brighton; there were even to be seen at this time a number of the completely cabless Cudworths."
— 1957 July 26, M. D. Greville, “A Diamond Jubilee of Railway Memories”, in Railway Magazine, page 458:
"The Tyrian queen […] Admir'd his fortunes, more admir'd the man; then re-collected stood."
— 1697, Virgil, “(please specify the book number)”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
"The Major suddenly recollected himself, and withdrew his hand, and at the same time, threw himself into a chair."
— 1847, Newton Mallory Curtis, The Patrol of the Mountain, page 52:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
He tried to ____ the details of the conversation but could only remember a few words.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He struggled to ____ the exact sequence of events that had led to the accident.