WordGarden.iorecap
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /riːkˈæp/
US
- /ˈriˌkæp/
Meanings
Noun
a brief summary of the main points or of what happened
Verb
to summarize the main points or briefly review what happened
Beyond the definition
Imagine you've been binge-watching a thrilling series with a friend who missed an episode. You wouldn't just jump into the current scene, right? You'd recap what happened—quickly summarize the key events so they can follow along! That's exactly what "recap" means: to briefly summarize or review something, often to refresh someone's memory.
It's common in storytelling (like our TV show example!), but also useful in meetings ("Let's recap the main points"), news reports ("Here's a quick recap of today's headlines"), and even everyday conversations ("Just to recap, we're meeting at 7 p.m.?"). You can do a recap, or something is a recap—like a short summary at the end of a chapter.
"Recap" is a shortened form of "recapitulate." It's more than just repeating information; it's about hitting the highlights: the essential points that need to be remembered or understood. Think of it as boiling something down to its core parts.
You might ask someone to "give you the recap" after a long day at work, wanting to know what important things happened while you were away. News outlets often provide recaps of major events, like political debates or natural disasters. In entertainment, many streaming services offer episode recaps to help viewers catch up on complex storylines.
The word can be used as both a verb and a noun. As a verb: "Let me recap the project timeline for you." As a noun: "Here's a quick recap of our discussion." It's often used in situations where clarity and understanding are important, ensuring everyone is on the same page before moving forward.
So, whether it's summarizing a plot twist, reviewing meeting notes, or catching someone up on your day, "recap" is all about providing a concise overview of what has already happened.
Examples
- 1
Polite request
Can you recap the main points before we finish?
- 2
Meeting summary
She sent the team a short recap of the meeting.
- 3
Entertainment
I missed last week's episode, so I read a recap online.
- 4
Group decision
Before we move on, let's recap what we've decided so far.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Closing summary
To recap, the train leaves at 6:30, and we need to be there by 6:15.
- PhraseTo recap, ...
used before briefly repeating the main points
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- recapnounverb
Forms
- recapspluralnounverb
- recapping-ing formverbnoun
- recappedpast tenseverbnoun