verb
recant
ruh-KANT
verb
1
To formally take back a statement or belief you previously expressed, especially in public.
"Under pressure, the scientist was forced to recant his findings."
"She refused to recant her testimony even in court."
How to Use Recant
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishPublicly withdrawing something you said or believed before.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "recount" (to tell or retell a story).
Easily confused with
Common pairings
recant a confession
forced to recant
refuse to recant
Word Forms
recanted past tense, recanted past tense, recants singular, recants singular
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Under pressure, the scientist was forced to _____ his findings.
Etymology
First recorded in 1535, from Latin recantare ("to sing back, to revoke"), from re- plus canto ("to sing").