recite

recite — verb

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

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

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.

例句

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

同義詞
  • 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

反義詞
  • improvise

    to speak without preparation, opposite of delivering memorized material

文法句型

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

recite + from memory

recite + without object

用法筆記

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.

常見錯誤

❌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.動詞及物B2
釋義

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

例句

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

同義詞
  • 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

反義詞
  • summarize

    to give only the main points rather than every detail

文法句型

recite + noun phrase (list/complaint/details)

recite + to + audience

用法筆記

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.

常見錯誤

❌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'.