1 recollection | Definition of recollection
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recollection

noun
rec·​ol·​lec·​tion | \ ËŒre-kÉ™-ˈlek-shÉ™n How to pronounce recollection (audio) \

Definition of recollection

1a : tranquility of mind
b : religious contemplation
2a : the action or power of recalling to mind
b : something recalled to the mind
Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym Example Sentences Learn More about recollection

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Choose the Right Synonym for recollection

memory, remembrance, recollection, reminiscence mean the capacity for or the act of remembering, or the thing remembered. memory applies both to the power of remembering and to what is remembered. gifted with a remarkable memory that incident was now just a distant memory remembrance applies to the act of remembering or the fact of being remembered. any remembrance of his deceased wife was painful recollection adds an implication of consciously bringing back to mind often with some effort. after a moment's recollection he produced the name reminiscence suggests the recalling of usually pleasant incidents, experiences, or feelings from a remote past. my grandmother's reminiscences of her Iowa girlhood

Examples of recollection in a Sentence

Her recollection of the accident is very different from mine. She has only a vague recollection of her seventh birthday party. His novel is largely based on his own recollections of his childhood in the inner city.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 That is an interesting recollection for a couple reasons. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Padres notes: Strahm’s velocity philosophy; top of order a hit," 2 July 2019 Biden’s recollections of his involvement in Central American affairs are no more forthright, and no more insightful. — Andrew Cockburn, Harper's magazine, "No Joe!," 10 June 2019 Fox News noted that Avenatti denied this allegation: Avenatti had a different recollection of the incident. — Dylan Matthews, Vox, "Michael Avenatti has been arrested on a domestic violence charge," 14 Nov. 2018 The Plain Dealer wants your recollections of that time and how busing affected you and your family. — Patrick O'donnell, cleveland.com, "Calling all readers: Looking back at busing in Cleveland 40 years later," 15 Aug. 2019 He had been particularly savaged in the previous debate by Kamala Harris, a California senator who had rebuked his warm recollections of segregationist senators, along with his one-time opposition to mandatory school busing. — I.k. | Washington, The Economist, "Joe Biden comes under fire in the second Democratic debate," 1 Aug. 2019 The Free Press talked to nearly 20 people in and around the organization at the time of Sanders’ retirement to get their recollections of that crazy camp and season two decades ago. — Freep.com, "20 years ago, Barry Sanders retired and 'all hell broke loose'," 21 July 2019 Our recollections become secondhand, then thirdhand, and eventually just words in a history book. — David Burnett, National Geographic, "Memories of D-Day come alive on the beaches where it happened," 12 June 2019 And while the voyagers' modern-day reunion was no doubt moving for them, their recollections prove only fitfully interesting. — Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, "'The Raft': Film Review," 7 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'recollection.' 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 recollection

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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More Definitions for recollection

recollection

noun
How to pronounce recollection (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of recollection

: the act of remembering something or the ability to remember something
: something from the past that is remembered

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

recollection

noun
rec·​ol·​lec·​tion | \ ËŒre-kÉ™-ˈlek-shÉ™n How to pronounce recollection (audio) \

Kids Definition of recollection

1 : the act or power of remembering : memory a good recollection
2 : something remembered recollections of childhood

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More from Merriam-Webster on recollection

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with recollection

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for recollection

Spanish Central: Translation of recollection

Nglish: Translation of recollection for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of recollection for Arabic Speakers

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