verb

recall

rih-KAWL

verb

To bring a past event or fact back into your mind; to remember.

"I can't recall exactly where I put my keys."

"She recalled the exact words he used that night."

To officially call someone or something back.

"The ambassador was recalled to the capital amid the crisis."

To request the return of a faulty product.

"The automaker recalled thousands of cars over a brake defect."

To remove an elected official from office through a public vote.

"Voters moved to recall the governor after the scandal."

noun

The ability to remember, or an instance of remembering.

"His recall of dates and names is remarkable."

An official request that a faulty product be returned.

"The manufacturer issued a recall on the affected batteries."

How to Use Recall

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishRemembering something, or officially calling something/someone back.

Common pairings

perfect recall issue a recall recall an official

recalled past tense, recalls plural, recalls singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “recall” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Can you complete this real example?

I can't _____ exactly where I put my keys.

From re- ("back") plus call, likely shaped by the Latin revocare and French rappeler.