Explanation at your level:
When you recall something, you remember it. You look back in your mind. If you forget your friend's name, you try to recall it. It is like finding a picture in your head. You use this word when you want to talk about the past.
To recall is to bring a memory back. You can recall a story, a name, or a place. It is a bit like 'remember,' but it sounds more serious. For example, 'I recall our first meeting.' It helps you talk about things that happened a long time ago in a clear way.
In intermediate English, recall is often used to describe the act of retrieving specific information. You might recall a conversation or a specific instruction from a teacher. It is very common in business English when discussing past events or data. Using 'recall' instead of 'remember' can make your speech sound more organized and professional during meetings.
At the B2 level, you should recognize that recall can also mean to request the return of a product due to a defect. This is a common usage in news reports. Furthermore, it implies a level of clarity and precision in memory that 'remember' does not always capture. It is a staple of formal report writing and descriptive narratives.
At the advanced level, recall is used to discuss the cognitive process of memory retrieval. It is frequently used in academic contexts, such as 'the ability to recall complex data sets.' It also carries a nuance of 'summoning'—like recalling a diplomat or an ambassador. This dual usage—mental retrieval and physical summoning—is a hallmark of advanced vocabulary mastery.
At the mastery level, recall serves as a bridge between cognitive psychology and formal rhetoric. In literature, it can be used to evoke a sense of nostalgia, where the act of recalling becomes a deliberate, artistic reconstruction of the past. Its etymological roots in 'calling back' allow for sophisticated wordplay in formal essays, distinguishing between involuntary memory and the active, conscious act of recalling.
30秒でわかる単語
- Recall means to retrieve a memory.
- It is more formal than 'remember'.
- It is also used for product safety returns.
- It is a regular verb.
When you recall something, you are pulling a memory out of your brain's filing cabinet. It is a bit more formal than just saying 'remember,' often implying a deliberate effort to reconstruct a past event or detail.
Think of it as re-calling—you are calling the information back to the stage of your mind. Whether it is recalling a password you forgot or recalling a funny story from high school, the word suggests that the information was already there, just waiting to be accessed.
The word recall comes from the Latin re- (meaning 'back') and calare (meaning 'to call'). It entered English in the 15th century.
Originally, it was used in a physical sense, like calling a person back from a journey or a military post. Over time, the meaning shifted from physically calling someone back to mentally calling a thought back into consciousness. It is a great example of how physical actions often become metaphors for mental processes in language.
You will often hear recall in professional or academic settings. For example, a witness might 'recall the events of the night' in a courtroom, or a company might 'recall a faulty product' (meaning they ask customers to return it).
It is slightly more formal than 'remember.' You might say 'I remember my keys' in casual conversation, but 'I recall the details of our agreement' sounds much more precise and professional.
While 'recall' itself isn't the base of many idioms, it appears in phrases like 'if I recall correctly', which is a polite way to state an opinion you are fairly sure about. Another is 'total recall', which refers to the ability to remember everything perfectly, often used in science fiction contexts.
You might also hear 'beyond recall', meaning something is so far in the past that it can no longer be remembered by anyone. These expressions help soften or emphasize the act of memory in everyday speech.
Recall is a regular verb. The past tense is recalled and the present participle is recalling. The stress is on the second syllable: re-CALL.
In the UK, the IPA is /rɪˈkɔːl/, while in the US, it is /rɪˈkɔl/. It rhymes with words like install, forestall, and thrall. Remember to emphasize the 'call' part of the word to sound natural!
Fun Fact
The term 'product recall' is a relatively modern usage (20th century) compared to the mental 'recall'.
Pronunciation Guide
Starts with a short 'ri' sound, followed by a long 'aw' sound.
Similar to UK, but the 'aw' is slightly more open.
Common Errors
- Misplacing the stress on the first syllable (RE-call vs re-CALL).
- Pronouncing the 'l' too softly at the end.
- Confusing the vowel sound with 'coal'.
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to understand in context.
Requires careful usage of register.
Sounds formal in speech.
Commonly heard in news.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
上級
Grammar to Know
Gerunds after verbs
I recall seeing him.
That-clauses
I recall that he was late.
Passive voice
The product was recalled.
Examples by Level
I recall his name.
I remember his name.
Simple SVO structure.
Can you recall it?
Can you remember it?
Question form.
I recall the day.
I remember the day.
Recall + noun.
Do you recall me?
Do you remember me?
Direct object.
I recall the song.
I remember the song.
Recall + noun.
She recalls the trip.
She remembers the trip.
Third person singular.
We recall the fun.
We remember the fun.
Simple present.
I recall the house.
I remember the house.
Simple present.
I recall our first meeting at the park.
Do you recall what time the train leaves?
She recalls the story very clearly.
He could not recall where he left his keys.
We recall the beautiful summer we had.
They recall the advice their father gave.
I recall seeing that film last year.
Can you recall the password for the account?
The witness was asked to recall the events of the night.
I recall him saying that he would be late.
The company had to recall the faulty batteries.
If I recall correctly, the meeting is on Friday.
She struggled to recall the details of the contract.
He recalls his childhood with great fondness.
Do you recall ever meeting him before?
The teacher asked the students to recall the main points.
The government issued a recall for the contaminated food products.
He has a remarkable ability to recall long strings of numbers.
I recall having heard this rumor months ago.
The ambassador was recalled for urgent consultations.
She recalled the incident with a sense of regret.
It is difficult to recall a time when technology was so limited.
The author recalls her early struggles in her new memoir.
The system failed to recall the saved settings.
The patient showed a significant improvement in her ability to recall past events.
The film's plot is designed to recall the golden age of cinema.
He was recalled to the national team after his stellar performance.
The architect recalled the classical style in his modern design.
She could not recall the exact wording of the original treaty.
The memory of the accident was something he preferred not to recall.
The product recall cost the company millions in potential revenue.
He recalled the atmosphere of the city with vivid, sensory detail.
The poet's work serves to recall the lost traditions of the region.
The senator was recalled by his constituents due to the scandal.
Her testimony was vital, as she was the only one who could recall the sequence of events.
The painting recalls the Baroque period through its use of light and shadow.
He lived in a state of constant, painful recall of his mistakes.
The manufacturer initiated a voluntary recall to ensure consumer safety.
The narrative structure relies on the protagonist's unreliable recall of the past.
The diplomat was recalled from his post amidst rising tensions.
よく使う組み合わせ
Idioms & Expressions
"if I recall correctly"
If my memory is accurate.
If I recall correctly, he lives in London.
neutral"beyond recall"
Impossible to remember.
That event is now beyond recall.
formal"total recall"
Perfect memory.
She seems to have total recall of the book.
casual"call to mind"
To remember or think of something.
It calls to mind our trip to Italy.
neutral"in the back of one's mind"
Something you know but aren't thinking about.
I had it in the back of my mind.
casual"jog one's memory"
To help someone remember.
Let me jog your memory.
neutralEasily Confused
Both relate to memory.
Remember is general; recall is specific/formal.
I remember the day vs. I recall the facts.
Similar spelling.
Record is to save; recall is to retrieve.
Record the audio vs. Recall the info.
Similar meaning.
Recollect is more formal and implies effort.
I recollect the event.
Related to memory.
Remind is to help someone else remember.
Please remind me.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + recall + [noun]
I recall the meeting.
Subject + recall + [that clause]
I recall that he was there.
Subject + recall + [verb-ing]
I recall seeing him.
Subject + recall + [wh- clause]
I recall where we met.
Passive: Product + be + recalled
The cars were recalled.
語族
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
関連
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
よくある間違い
Recall is for information/events, not usually for physical items you possess.
Recall already means 'call back', so 'back' is redundant.
Record is to save, recall is to retrieve.
Recall sounds formal; remember is better for daily chat.
It is not 'call', it is 'recall'.
Tips
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a phone ringing in your brain—that's a 're-call'!
When Native Speakers Use It
They use it for data, facts, and formal product news.
Cultural Insight
It is often used in legal contexts for witness testimony.
Grammar Shortcut
Always follow it with an object or a clause.
Say It Right
Hit the 'CALL' hard.
Don't Make This Mistake
Do not use it for physical objects.
Did You Know?
It comes from Latin 'calare' meaning to call.
Study Smart
Practice using it in business email contexts.
Build Your Range
Swap 'remember' for 'recall' in your next formal essay.
Writing Tip
Use it to describe vivid memories in narratives.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
RE-CALL: You CALL the memory RE- (again) to your mind.
Visual Association
A telephone operator pulling a file from a cabinet.
Word Web
チャレンジ
Try to recall three things you did yesterday.
語源
Latin
Original meaning: To call back.
文化的な背景
None.
Commonly used in news for product safety issues.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At work
- recall the details
- recall the policy
- recall the conversation
In a courtroom
- recall the events
- recall the statement
- recall the witness
In business/safety
- issue a recall
- product recall
- voluntary recall
In school/study
- recall the facts
- recall the lesson
- recall the information
Conversation Starters
"Can you recall your earliest childhood memory?"
"Do you recall the first time you traveled abroad?"
"Is there a specific song that helps you recall a memory?"
"Do you find it easy to recall names of people you just met?"
"Can you recall the last time you were truly surprised?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you had to recall a difficult piece of information.
Describe a memory you vividly recall from your school years.
How does the ability to recall change as we get older?
If you had total recall, what is the first thing you would do?
よくある質問
8 問They are similar, but recall is more formal and implies a deliberate effort.
No, you should use 'remember' for physical items.
It is when a company asks customers to return a product because it is faulty.
re-CALL (stress on the second syllable).
Yes, it is regular (recall, recalled, recalled).
You can, but it might sound a bit stiff or formal.
The noun is also 'recall'.
No, it is for memory or product returns.
自分をテスト
I try to ___ my friend's name.
Recall is the only word that fits the context of memory.
Which sentence is correct?
Recall is used for events or information, not physical objects you own.
The word 'recall' can mean to ask for a product to be returned.
This is a common usage in business and safety news.
Word
意味
Matches the word to its meaning.
Subject + verb + object.
The company issued a ___ due to safety issues.
Noun form is needed here.
Is 'recall' a regular verb?
Yes, it follows standard -ed and -ing rules.
What is the best synonym for 'recall' in a formal context?
Recollect is the most formal synonym.
Standard sentence structure.
His ___ of the past was remarkably detailed.
Noun form is required.
スコア： /10
Summary
Recall is the formal act of bringing a memory back to your mind or requesting a faulty product be returned.
- Recall means to retrieve a memory.
- It is more formal than 'remember'.
- It is also used for product safety returns.
- It is a regular verb.
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a phone ringing in your brain—that's a 're-call'!
When Native Speakers Use It
They use it for data, facts, and formal product news.
Cultural Insight
It is often used in legal contexts for witness testimony.
Grammar Shortcut
Always follow it with an object or a clause.
Related Content
関連フレーズ
generalの関連語
about
A1'about'は、何かの話題について話すときや、おおよその量を表すときに使います。
above
A2何かの真上にある、より高い位置を示します。
accident
A2予期せず起こる悪い出来事で、損害や怪我につながることがあるものです。
action
A2目標を達成するために何かを実際に行うことだよ。
after
A2'after'は、時間的または場所的に、何かの後であることを意味します。
afterward
A2At a later or subsequent time.
again
A2'again'は、何かがもう一度起こる、繰り返されることを意味します。
aged
B1ある特定の年齢であること。人や物の年齢を表す時に使うよ。
alive
A2死んでおらず、生命活動をしている状態。
all
A2'all'は、物事の全体や、一つ残らずすべてを指します。
