recapitulate
C1Formal, Academic, Technical
Definition
Meaning
To repeat or summarise the main points of something, especially as a conclusion.
In biology, to repeat during embryonic development the evolutionary stages of the species (as in the theory of recapitulation).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Carries a nuance of structured, often concise, repetition for clarity or emphasis, not mere redundancy.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Slightly more frequent in formal British academic/professional writing.
Connotations
May sound slightly more formal or old-fashioned in everyday American English compared to 'summarise' or 'recap'.
Frequency
Low frequency in casual speech in both varieties; higher in technical/academic contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
recapitulate somethingrecapitulate on something (rare, dated)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To recapitulate in a nutshell”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in formal meetings or reports to summarise decisions or action points.
Academic
Common in lectures, dissertation conclusions, and article abstracts.
Everyday
Very rare; 'recap' is used informally.
Technical
Key term in embryology and evolutionary biology (biological recapitulation).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Before we adjourn, let me recapitulate the key action items.
- The concluding chapter usefully recapitulates the thesis's central argument.
American English
- To recapitulate, our proposal focuses on three pillars: cost, speed, and reliability.
- The professor recapitulated the main themes of the course in the final lecture.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The teacher recapitulated the lesson at the end.
- The report's executive summary recapitulates the most critical data from the full analysis.
- Could you briefly recapitulate what was agreed in the last meeting?
- The author's introduction not only outlines but deftly recapitulates the epistemological debate that frames the entire work.
- Embryological development is often said to recapitulate phylogenetic history.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: RE-CAP-it-ulate. You put the CAP (main point) back on (RE) to summarise.
Conceptual Metaphor
SPEECH/WRITING IS A JOURNEY (recapitulating is retracing the key steps of the journey).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- False friend with 'рекапитулировать' – extremely rare/technical in Russian. Use 'подводить итоги', 'резюмировать'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it in casual conversation where 'recap' is expected.
- Incorrect preposition: 'recapitulate about' (use 'recapitulate' directly).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'recapitulate' most specifically used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Recapitulate' is formal. 'Recap' is the standard, informal abbreviation used in speech and casual writing.
No, it's a C1-level formal word. 'Summarise' or 'sum up' are far more common in general use.
Yes, it has a specific technical meaning in biology (the recapitulation theory).
It's redundant, as 're-' already means 'again'. Avoid this combination.