# recount

/ˌɹiˈkaʊnt/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/recount
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. to tell a story

verb · CEFR B2

to tell someone about an event or experience in a detailed way.

For teachers: to relate or narrate the particulars of an event or experience. Transitive — requires a direct object representing the story or event.

- He sat by the fire to recount his adventures in the mountains.
- The witness was asked to recount the exact sequence of events leading up to the accident without omitting any minor details.

### 2. to count again

verb · CEFR B2

to count something a second time to make sure the first count was correct.

For teachers: to perform a second or subsequent count, typically of ballots or physical inventory, to verify accuracy.

- The clerk had to recount the money because the totals did not match.
- After the initial tally showed a difference of only ten votes, the committee decided to recount every ballot by hand.

### 3. a second count of votes

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a second count of votes in an election when the first result is very close.

For teachers: a second or additional count of election ballots, often conducted when the margin of victory is extremely narrow.

- The candidate demanded a recount after losing by only five votes.
- The legal team filed a petition for a manual recount, citing potential irregularities in the electronic scanning machines.

### 4. a narration

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary · Archaic

a story or description of something that happened.

For teachers: a detailed account or narration of a past event. Primarily literary in modern usage.

- Her recount of the journey was filled with beautiful descriptions of the sea.
- The historian provided a vivid recount of the battle, drawing heavily from the private journals of the soldiers involved.

## Examples

- The candidate demanded a recount after losing by only ten votes.
- Following allegations of technical glitches, the electoral commission ordered a full manual recount of every paper ballot.
- The tension in the room was palpable as officials began the recount, knowing that a shift of just a few dozen votes could alter the political landscape of the entire region.

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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.