Standard Lemma guide

recall

noun · verb · 25 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈɹiːkɔːl/
  • General-American: rē′kôl′
  • General-American: rēkôl′
  • General-American: rĭkôl′
  • General-American: /ˈɹiˌkɔl/
  • General-American: /ɹiˈkɔl/
  • General-American: /ɹɪˈkɔl/
  • cot-caught-merger: /ˈɹiˌkɑl/
  • cot-caught-merger: /ɹiˈkɑl/
  • cot-caught-merger: /ɹɪˈkɑl/
  • cot-caught-merger: [ɹiˈkhɑɫ]
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -iːkɔːl
  • rhymes with -ɔːl
  • Received-Pronunciation: /ɹɪˈkɔːl/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • cot-caught-merger: [ɹɪˈkhɑɫ]
  • sometimes: /ˈɹɪkɔl/ in sense 8
  • CMU ARPABET: R IY1 K AO2 L Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 2: R IH0 K AO1 L Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The action or fact of calling someone or something back.

Request of the return of a faulty product.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Examples

  • recall campaign

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The action or fact of calling someone or something back.

The right or procedure by which a public official may be removed from office before the end of their term of office, by a vote of the people to be taken on the filing of a petition signed by a required number or percentage of qualified voters.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, countable, uncountable

Topics: government, politics

Examples

  • recall petition
  • representative recall

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

The action or fact of calling someone or something back.

The right or procedure by which the decision of a court may be directly reversed or annulled by popular vote, as was advocated, in 1912, in the platform of the Progressive Party for certain cases involving the police power of the state.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, countable, uncountable

Topics: government, politics

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

Memory; the ability to remember.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

The fraction of (all) relevant material that is returned by a search.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Qualifier: information retrieval; machine learning; information retrieval; machine learning

Examples

  • precision and recall

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: sensitivity

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

To withdraw, retract (one's words etc.); to revoke (an order).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: withcall, abjure, backpedal, disavow, disown, eat one's words, recall, recant, retract, revoke, swallow, take back, unsay, unspeak, walk back, withdraw

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

To call back, bring back, or summon (someone) to a specific place, station, etc.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • He was recalled to service after his retirement.
  • She was recalled to London for the trial.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

verb

Meaning 8

To remove an elected official through a petition and direct vote.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, transitive

Topics: government, politics

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

verb

Meaning 9

To bring back (someone) to or from a particular mental or physical state, activity etc.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

10

verb

Meaning 10

To call back (a situation, event, etc.) to one's mind; to remember; to recollect.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

11

verb

Meaning 11

To hearken back to, evoke; to be reminiscent of.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

12

verb

Meaning 12

To call again; to call another time.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

13

verb

Meaning 13

To request or order the return of (a faulty product).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

14

noun

Meaning 14

the act of removing an official by petition

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: abrogation, repeal, annulment

15

noun

Meaning 15

the process of remembering (especially the process of recovering information by mental effort)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he has total recall of the episode

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: recollection, reminiscence

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: memory, remembering

Narrower terms: mind, reconstruction, reconstructive memory, reproduction, reproductive memory, regurgitation

16

noun

Meaning 16

a bugle call that signals troops to return

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: bugle call

17

noun

Meaning 17

a call to return

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the recall of our ambassador

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: call

18

noun

Meaning 18

a request by the manufacturer of a defective product to return the product (as for replacement or repair)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: callback

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: request, asking

19

verb

Meaning 19

recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • I can't remember saying any such thing
  • I can't think what her last name was
  • can you remember her phone number?
  • Do you remember that he once loved you?
  • call up memories

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: remember, retrieve, call back, call up, recollect, think

Antonyms: none provided

Narrower terms: know, recognize, recognise, review, brush up, refresh

20

verb

Meaning 20

cause one's (or someone else's) thoughts or attention to return from a reverie or digression

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • She was recalled by a loud laugh

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: concentrate, focus, center, centre, pore, rivet

21

verb

Meaning 21

summon to return

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The ambassador was recalled to his country
  • The company called back many of the workers it had laid off during the recession

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: call back

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: call, send for

22

verb

Meaning 22

go back to something earlier

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • This harks back to a previous remark of his

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: hark back, return, come back

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: denote, refer

Narrower terms: recur, go back

23

verb

Meaning 23

cause to be returned

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • recall the defective auto tires
  • The manufacturer tried to call back the spoilt yoghurt

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: call in, call back, withdraw

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: take

Narrower terms: decommission

24

verb

Meaning 24

make unavailable; bar from sale or distribution

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The company recalled the product when it was found to be faulty

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: issue

Broader terms: cancel, strike down

Narrower terms: retire

25

verb

Meaning 25

call to mind

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • His words echoed John F. Kennedy

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: echo

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: resemble

History

Etymology

From re- + call, probably modelled on Latin revocāre, French rappeler, English withcall.

Across languages

Translations

135 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: سَحْبٌ (saḥbun) — product recall
  • Dutch: terughaalactie — product recall
  • Dutch: product recall — product recall
  • Finnish: takaisinveto — product recall
  • German: Rückruf — product recall
  • German: Rückrufaktion — product recall
  • Indonesian: penarikan — product recall
  • Portuguese: recall — product recall
  • Slovak: zvolanie — product recall
  • Spanish: retirada — product recall
  • Spanish: recordación — memory
  • Spanish: rememoración — memory
  • Russian: полнота (polnota) — machine learning recall
  • Arabic: ٱسْتَدْعى — to call (someone) back to a specific place, station
  • Azerbaijani: geri çağırmaq — to call (someone) back to a specific place, station
  • Bulgarian: връщам (vrǎštam) — to call (someone) back to a specific place, station
  • Bulgarian: отзовавам (otzovavam) — to call (someone) back to a specific place, station
  • Catalan: evocar — to call (someone) back to a specific place, station
  • Chinese Mandarin: 罷免 /罢免 (bàmiǎn) — to call (someone) back to a specific place, station
  • Chinese Mandarin: 召回 (zhàohuí) — to call (someone) back to a specific place, station
  • Esperanto: revoki — to call (someone) back to a specific place, station
  • Finnish: kutsua takaisin — to call (someone) back to a specific place, station
  • French: rappeler — to call (someone) back to a specific place, station
  • German: zurückrufen — to call (someone) back to a specific place, station
  • Hungarian: visszahív — to call (someone) back to a specific place, station
  • Hungarian: visszarendel — to call (someone) back to a specific place, station
  • Hungarian: hazahív — to call (someone) back to a specific place, station
  • Italian: ritirare — to call (someone) back to a specific place, station
  • Italian: revocare — to call (someone) back to a specific place, station
  • Italian: richiamare — to call (someone) back to a specific place, station
  • Japanese: 呼び返す (yobikaesu) — to call (someone) back to a specific place, station
  • Latin: revocō — to call (someone) back to a specific place, station
  • Portuguese: reconvocar — to call (someone) back to a specific place, station
  • Russian: отзыва́ть (otzyvátʹ) — to call (someone) back to a specific place, station
  • Russian: отозва́ть (otozvátʹ) — to call (someone) back to a specific place, station
  • Ukrainian: відклика́ти (vidklykáty) — to call (someone) back to a specific place, station
  • Welsh: adalw — to call (someone) back to a specific place, station
  • Albanian: kujtoj — to remember, recollect
  • Arabic: تَذَكَّرَ (taḏakkara) — to remember, recollect
  • Belarusian: паміна́ць (paminácʹ) — to remember, recollect
  • Belarusian: памяну́ць (pamjanúcʹ) — to remember, recollect
  • Bulgarian: спомням си (spomnjam si) — to remember, recollect
  • Catalan: recordar — to remember, recollect
  • Chinese Mandarin: 回憶 /回忆 (huíyì) — to remember, recollect
  • Chinese Mandarin: 追憶 /追忆 (zhuīyì) — to remember, recollect
  • Chinese Mandarin: 想起 (xiǎngqǐ) — to remember, recollect
  • Chinese Mandarin: 回想 (huíxiǎng) — to remember, recollect
  • Chinese Mandarin: 憶起 /忆起 (yìqǐ) — to remember, recollect
  • Ngazidja Comorian: hweshelea — to remember, recollect
  • Corsican: ricurdà — to remember, recollect
  • Dutch: herinneren — to remember, recollect
  • Egyptian: s-xA-A-A2 (sḫꜣj) — to remember, recollect
  • Esperanto: rememori — to remember, recollect
  • Finnish: muistaa — to remember, recollect
  • Finnish: palauttaa mieleen — to remember, recollect
  • French: se souvenir — to remember, recollect
  • French: se rappeler — to remember, recollect
  • French: se remémorer — to remember, recollect
  • Friulian: ricuardâ — to remember, recollect
  • Georgian: მოგონება (mogoneba) — to remember, recollect
  • Georgian: გახსენება (gaxseneba) — to remember, recollect
  • Georgian: შეხსენება (šexseneba) — to remember, recollect
  • German: sich erinnern — to remember, recollect
  • German: sich entsinnen — to remember, recollect
  • German: gedenken — to remember, recollect
  • German: abrufen — to remember, recollect
  • Gothic: 𐌲𐌰𐌼𐌿𐌽𐌰𐌽 (gamunan) — to remember, recollect
  • Greek: αναπολώ (anapoló) — to remember, recollect
  • Ancient Greek: μιμνήσκομαι (mimnḗskomai) — to remember, recollect
  • Ancient Greek: μνημονεύω (mnēmoneúō) — to remember, recollect
  • Hungarian: felidéz — to remember, recollect
  • Hungarian: idéz — to remember, recollect
  • Hungarian: felelevenít — to remember, recollect
  • Istriot: racurdà — to remember, recollect
  • Italian: rammentare — to remember, recollect
  • Italian: ricordare — to remember, recollect
  • Italian: riportare alla memoria — to remember, recollect
  • Japanese: 思い出す (omoidasu) — to remember, recollect
  • Japanese: 思い起す (omoiokosu) — to remember, recollect
  • Japanese: 想起する (sōki suru) — to remember, recollect
  • Kabuverdianu: lenbra — to remember, recollect
  • Korean: 회상하다 (hoesanghada) — to remember, recollect
  • Korean: 생각나다 (saenggangnada) — to remember, recollect
  • Latin: meminī — to remember, recollect
  • Latin: recordor — to remember, recollect
  • Māori: mahara — to remember, recollect
  • Māori: maumahara — to remember, recollect
  • Māori: whakamaumahara — to remember, recollect
  • Portuguese: lembrar — to remember, recollect
  • Portuguese: recordar — to remember, recollect
  • Romanian: aminti — to remember, recollect
  • Russian: вспомина́ть (vspominátʹ) — to remember, recollect
  • Russian: вспо́мнить (vspómnitʹ) — to remember, recollect
  • Russian: припоминать (pripominatʹ) — to remember, recollect
  • Sanskrit: स्मरति (smárati) — to remember, recollect
  • Scottish Gaelic: cuimhnich — to remember, recollect
  • Scottish Gaelic: meòraich — to remember, recollect
  • Scottish Gaelic: bi cuimhne aig — to remember, recollect
  • Sicilian: ricurdari — to remember, recollect
  • Sicilian: arricurdari — to remember, recollect
  • Spanish: remembrar — to remember, recollect
  • Spanish: tener / hacer memoria de — to remember, recollect
  • Swedish: minnas — to remember, recollect
  • Swedish: dra sig till minnes — to remember, recollect
  • Swedish: komma ihåg — to remember, recollect
  • Thai: นึกถึง — to remember, recollect
  • Ottoman Turkish: آڭمق (anmak) — to remember, recollect
  • Ukrainian: зга́дувати (zháduvaty) — to remember, recollect
  • Venetan: regordar — to remember, recollect
  • Venetan: regordàr — to remember, recollect
  • Venetan: recordar — to remember, recollect
  • Venetan: recordàr — to remember, recollect
  • Welsh: adalw — to remember, recollect
  • Welsh: cofio — to remember, recollect
  • Arabic: سَحَبَ (saḥaba) — to order the return of (faulty product)
  • Bulgarian: отзовавам (otzovavam) — to order the return of (faulty product)
  • Chinese Mandarin: 召回 (zhàohuí) — to order the return of (faulty product)
  • Finnish: takaisinkutsua — to order the return of (faulty product)
  • French: rappeler — to order the return of (faulty product)
  • German: zurückrufen — to order the return of (faulty product)
  • German: rückrufen — to order the return of (faulty product)
  • Hungarian: visszavon — to order the return of (faulty product)
  • Hungarian: bevon — to order the return of (faulty product)
  • Hungarian: visszahív — to order the return of (faulty product)
  • Indonesian: menarik — to order the return of (faulty product)
  • Italian: richiamare — to order the return of (faulty product)
  • Italian: ritirare — to order the return of (faulty product)
  • Norwegian Bokmål: tilbakekalle — to order the return of (faulty product)
  • Portuguese: convocar — to order the return of (faulty product)
  • Russian: отзывать (otzyvatʹ) — to order the return of (faulty product)
  • Russian: отозвать (otozvatʹ) — to order the return of (faulty product)
  • Spanish: retirar — to order the return of (faulty product)
  • Swedish: återkalla — to order the return of (faulty product)
  • Welsh: adalw — to order the return of (faulty product)
  • Welsh: adennill — to order the return of (faulty product)
Real reading context

recall in complete knowledge articles