# REC

/ˈɹɛk/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/rec
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. recreation or a park

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · British English

a short word for fun activities or a public park where people play sports.

For teachers: a clipping of recreation or recreation ground, often referring to a public park or leisure facility.

- The kids are playing football down at the rec this afternoon.
- The local council recently allocated funds to refurbish the rec, adding new swings and a modern basketball court for the community.

Usage: Often used with 'the' to refer to a specific local park.

### 2. a recommendation

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · Slang

a short way to say a suggestion or a recommendation for something good.

For teachers: a clipping of recommendation, typically used when asking for or providing suggestions.

- Does anyone have a good rec for a pizza place in London?
- I followed your rec for that new historical novel, and I must admit it was one of the most engaging books I have read all year.

### 3. to record

verb · CEFR B1 · Technical

to start capturing sound or video on a device.

For teachers: to record audio or video; frequently seen as a label on electronic equipment buttons.

- Make sure you hit rec before the interview starts.
- The engineer checked the levels one last time before pressing rec to capture the band's live studio session.

### 4. to recommend

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal · Slang

to suggest that someone should try or buy something.

For teachers: to recommend a product, service, or experience to another person.

- I would highly rec this app if you want to learn French.
- Although the critic did not rec the film to general audiences, he noted that fans of the genre might appreciate the cinematography.

### 5. recreational

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

related to fun activities or hobbies rather than work.

For teachers: a clipping of recreational; used to describe activities or spaces intended for leisure.

- He joined a rec league to play basketball on the weekends.
- The university offers several rec sports for students who want to stay active without the pressure of varsity competition.

## Examples

- I need a rec for a good plumber.
- She asked her boss for a rec before applying to the new job.
- The film's success relied less on marketing and more on the steady stream of positive recs from early viewers.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.