English Reference

Word

recall

Phoneticsre·call, stress on the first syllable

/ˈɹiˌkɔɫ/

Definitions

01to remember

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to bring a fact, event, or situation back into your mind.

v. to retrieve information or experiences from memory. Often used with a direct object or a 'that' clause.

“I can't recall exactly what he said during the meeting yesterday.”

“The witness struggled to recall the specific details of the vehicle, though she was certain about the driver's height.”

Pitfall

I recall to see him at the party.

I recall seeing him at the party.

When 'recall' is followed by another verb, use the -ing form, not the infinitive with 'to'.

Synonyms

rememberrecollect

Antonyms

02to order the return of a product

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to ask customers to return a product because it is broken or dangerous.

v. to issue a formal request for the return of a batch of products due to safety defects or manufacturing errors.

“The car company had to recall thousands of vehicles because of a brake problem.”

“The manufacturer decided to recall the entire line of infant car seats after a minor structural flaw was discovered during routine testing.”

Synonyms

03to summon back

C1 · Advanced Formal

v. to officially ask someone to return to a place.

v. to officially summon someone back to a previous location, station, or duty.

“The ambassador was recalled to his home country for urgent talks.”

“Following the sudden escalation of the border dispute, the government recalled its senior diplomats to the capital for an emergency briefing.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

04the ability to remember

B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun

n. the ability to remember things you have seen or heard.

n. the faculty or power of remembering; the capacity for information retrieval.

“She has an amazing recall of names and faces, even after many years.”

“The candidate's total recall of obscure legislative details impressed the interview panel during the final round of questioning.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

forgetfulness

05a product return

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. an official order to return a faulty or dangerous product.

n. a public request by a manufacturer for the return of a product that may be defective or unsafe.

“The supermarket issued a recall for the chicken because of a health risk.”

“The massive product recall cost the electronics firm millions in lost revenue and severely damaged its reputation for quality control.”

Synonyms

06removing an official

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Law American English · Formal

n. a vote to remove an elected leader from their job before their time is finished.

n. a procedure by which voters can remove an elected official from office through a direct vote before their term has ended.

“The governor faced a recall after the public became unhappy with his new taxes.”

“The city charter allows for a recall election if a sufficient number of registered voters sign a formal petition within ninety days.”

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “recall” in context.

Verb

01. recall a faulty product

“The car manufacturer had to recall a faulty product due to a brake malfunction.”

verb + noun

02. recall that the meeting was canceled

“Do you recall that the meeting was canceled at the last minute?”

verb + that-clause

03. recall the ambassador from the country

“The government decided to recall the ambassador from the country to protest the new laws.”

verb + noun + prep + noun

Noun

04. product recall

“The company issued a massive product recall after several customers reported injuries.”

noun + noun

05. total recall of the facts

“The witness demonstrated total recall of the facts during the cross-examination.”

adj + noun + of + noun

Adverb

06. dimly recall the details

“I can only dimly recall the details of our first meeting because I was so young.”

adv + verb + noun

07. fondly recall the summer

“They fondly recall the summer they spent traveling across Europe together.”

adv + verb + noun

08. vividly recall the event

“Even after twenty years, I still vividly recall the event as if it happened yesterday.”

adv + verb + noun

Real-World Examples

“He said he could not recall the Bowral meeting.”
The Guardian 14 Aug 2026
“She recalls her daughter using it as a child.”
The Guardian 11 Aug 2026

Etymology

From re- + call, probably modelled on Latin revocāre, French rappeler, English withcall.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
Frequency
Common
Level
B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
Updated

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