Recapitulate
Recaps before finals, meeting minutes, and podcast intros all repeat the plot so nobody gets lost on the way to the new point.
Learn This WordMeaning
To summarize and restate the main points; to go over again briefly.
Memory trick
RE-CAPitulate: put the cap back on by summarizing the main heads (capita).
Examples
Before we close, let me recapitulate the decisions and owners.
The final paragraph recapitulates the argument in plain language.
She recapitulated last quarter’s lessons before proposing changes.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
From Late Latin recapitulare "to summarize by headings," from re- "again" + capitulum "little head/chapter."
Usage Notes
Formal but useful in meetings and writing when wrapping up with structure.
Real-life contexts
Use in meetings: "Can someone recapitulate action items?"
Use in docs: "Recapitulate key findings at the top."
Use in teaching: "Recapitulate before moving to the next concept."
Common Mistakes
Recapitulate is more than repeat; it implies organized summary.
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Start LearningQuick Facts
Part of Speech
verb
Difficulty
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