recollect

Everyday

1. To remember something from the past, often with effort: «I don't recollect his name.» tree →
2. (re-collect, with a hyphen) To collect or gather again: «re-collect the worksheets». tree →
3. (formal) To calm yourself or get your thoughts together: «She paused to recollect herself.» tree →

In the lessons

In stories and history (witness accounts, memoirs) characters recollect events; in everyday life it is a slightly formal way of saying «remember». Phrases: «as far as I can recollect», «recollect seeing», «recollect oneself».

Examples

• I can't recollect where I put my keys. tree →
• Grandma recollects the day the war ended. tree →
• As far as I can recollect, we met at the zoo. tree →
• Do you recollect seeing a red car? tree →
• He tried to recollect the words of the poem. tree →
• The witness could not recollect the man's face. tree →
• I am quite sure if I recollect all this tomorrow, it will appear utterly ridiculous and absurd. tree →

Note

Noun: recollection (a memory). Use «recollect + noun» or «recollect + -ing»: recollect meeting him. More formal than «remember». Note: «re-collect» with a hyphen means gather again and has a different stress (ree-col-LECT).