recall
B2Neutral to Formal
Definition
Meaning
To bring a past event, fact, or feeling back to one's mind; to remember.
An official order for the return of a faulty product or a public official; the act of remembering something; a politician's power to be removed from office by voters; a request for soldiers or others to return to duty.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a verb, it can mean both voluntary effort to remember and spontaneous memory. As a noun, it is often used in political, corporate, and military contexts. The sense of summoning back (e.g., 'recall an ambassador') is formal.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both noun and verb forms are used in both varieties, but the noun sense of a product withdrawal is more common in American English, often as a 'product recall'. In British political contexts, 'recall' (of an MP) is a specific formal procedure.
Connotations
Neutral for memory; negative for product/personnel withdrawals implying failure or danger.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English, especially in business/political media.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
recall + NP (I can't recall his name)recall + that-clause (She recalled that it was Tuesday)recall + V-ing (Do you recall meeting her?)recall + wh-clause (I can't recall where I put it)be recalled + to + NP (The ambassador was recalled to London)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “beyond/past recall (impossible to remember or reverse)”
- “total recall (perfect memory)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Announcing a product recall due to safety issues.
Academic
The study measured participants' recall of word lists.
Everyday
I don't recall locking the front door.
Technical
The model's precision and recall were calculated.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The MP faced a recall petition.
- Her recall of historical dates is impressive.
- The car was subject to a safety recall.
American English
- The senator's recall was on the ballot.
- He has an incredible recall for names.
- A major recall affected the toy industry.
verb
British English
- I don't recall giving you permission.
- The manufacturer was forced to recall thousands of vehicles.
- Can you recall what the witness said?
American English
- I don't recall signing that document.
- The FDA issued a recall for the contaminated medication.
- Try to recall where you last saw your keys.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I recall her face.
- Do you recall his name?
- The company will recall the toys.
- I vaguely recall meeting him at a party.
- The government issued a recall of the faulty airbags.
- Try to recall what happened next.
- He could recall with perfect clarity the moment he heard the news.
- The recall of the ambassador signified a major diplomatic rift.
- Patients showed improved recall after the cognitive therapy.
- The memoir recalls in poignant detail the hardships of the era.
- The petition successfully triggered a recall election for the mayor.
- The study's findings on associative recall challenged previous models.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
RE-CALL: To CALL a memory BACK again.
Conceptual Metaphor
MEMORY IS A STORAGE CONTAINER (accessing stored items); MEMORY IS A RETURN JOURNEY (bringing something back).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'call back' (перезвонить) in telephone contexts; 'recall' is not a simple return call.
- Avoid using 'recall' for reminding someone else (use 'remind'). 'Recall' is for your own memory.
- The noun 'recall' (отзыв) is a direct cognate but used more specifically for products/officials.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: *'I recalled him to take the keys.' (Correct: 'I reminded him to take the keys.')
- Incorrect: *'She recalled me of her mother.' (Correct: 'She reminded me of her mother.')
- Confusing verb stress: UK/US verb is /rɪˈkɔːl/; US noun can be /ˈriː.kɔːl/.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'recall' used as a formal political procedure?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are very close synonyms. 'Recall' often implies a more conscious, deliberate effort to remember specific details, while 'remember' can be more general or spontaneous.
'Recall' is about accessing your own memory. 'Remind' is about causing someone else to remember (e.g., 'She reminded me of the meeting'). You cannot 'recall someone to do something'.
Primarily as a noun for 'product recall' – an official request to return a product because it is defective or potentially dangerous.
No. 'Recall' always refers to bringing something from the past back to mind. For future events, use 'remember' in a context like 'Remember to call me' (where 'remember' means 'keep in mind').