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reckon

verb
reck·​on | \ ˈre-kÉ™n How to pronounce reckon (audio) \
reckoned; reckoning\ ˈre-​kÉ™-​niÅ‹ How to pronounce reckoning (audio) , ˈrek-​niÅ‹ \

Definition of reckon

transitive verb

1a : count reckon the days till Christmas
b : estimate, compute reckon the height of a building
c : to determine by reference to a fixed basis the existence of the U.S. is reckoned from the Declaration of Independence
2 : to regard or think of as : consider
3 chiefly dialectal : think, suppose I reckon I've outlived my time— Ellen Glasgow

intransitive verb

1 : to settle accounts
2 : to make a calculation
3a : judge
b chiefly dialectal : suppose, think
4 : to accept something as certain : place reliance I reckon on your promise to help
reckon with
: to take into consideration
reckon without
: to fail to consider : ignore
Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about reckon

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Examples of reckon in a Sentence

I reckon that we'll have to leave early. Do you reckon you'll be able to go to the grocery store after work? We'll have to leave early, I reckon. They reckoned that they would reach their destination by noon. Losses were reckoned to be over a million dollars.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 Over three days, several key points emerged: First, global capitalism is, slowly but very surely, starting to reckon with the economic risks posed by climate change and other environmental threats. — Eamon Barrett, Fortune, "What We Learned From The Fortune Global Sustainability Forum," 11 Sep. 2019 Yet the church has done little to reckon with its role in what investigators now say was years of his abuse. — Washington Post, "Ex-clergyman says US priest in Philippines a known pedophile," 10 Sep. 2019 Shares of L Brands, its parent company, have cratered since 2015; sales at stores have dropped; and the brand has been forced to reckon with shifting consumer tastes, executive turnover and new competition. — Sapna Maheshwari, New York Times, "Victoria’s Secret Had Troubles, Even Before Jeffrey Epstein," 6 Sep. 2019 But when someone inadvertently steals the last photo of his son, the theft forces Tom to reckon with what his life has become. Huston bounces around between timelines and cuts in news footage from the bombing’s aftermath. — Los Angeles Times, "Review: Danny Huston’s ‘The Last Photograph’; plus ‘Boy Genius,’ ‘The Whistler’ and more," 5 Sep. 2019 That has changed and the Warriors return to league play in 2020 as a team to be reckoned with along with new additions Little Miami and Lebanon. — Scott Springer, Cincinnati.com, "Eastern Cincinnati Conference football improving year by year," 21 Aug. 2019 Slowly, museums and countries have started to reckon with the grisly legacy of colonialism. — Oscar Schwartz, WIRED, "There’s a Thriving Market for Human Body Parts on Instagram," 21 Aug. 2019 Spencer Platt/Getty Images The Jeffrey Epstein case is forcing the American public to reckon with difficult questions about power, wealth, and the apparent ease with which all too many people were able to ignore evidence of abuse. — Anna North, Vox, "What Jeffrey Epstein’s case says (and doesn’t say) about human trafficking in America," 16 Aug. 2019 These are the things that have forced law enforcement agencies to reckon with the distrust and the accusations of discrimination. — Sue Mcmillin, The Denver Post, "McMillin: De’Von Bailey’s family shouldn’t have to request a truly independent investigation," 13 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'reckon.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of reckon

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

History and Etymology for reckon

Middle English rekenen, from Old English -recenian (as in gerecenian to narrate); akin to Old English reccan

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More Definitions for reckon

reckon

verb
How to pronounce reckon (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of reckon

informal : to think or suppose (something) : to believe that (something) is true or possible
: to calculate or guess (an amount, number, value, etc.) : to have or form a general idea about (something)
: to think of (someone or something) as being something specified

See the full definition for reckon in the English Language Learners Dictionary

reckon

verb
reck·​on | \ ˈre-kÉ™n How to pronounce reckon (audio) \
reckoned; reckoning

Kids Definition of reckon

1 : to believe that something is true or possible I reckon we're lost.
2 : calculate sense 1 They reckon the distance to be a mile.
3 : to regard or think of as : consider She was reckoned among the leaders.

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More from Merriam-Webster on reckon

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with reckon

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for reckon

Spanish Central: Translation of reckon

Nglish: Translation of reckon for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of reckon for Arabic Speakers

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