recant

American

[ri-kant] / rɪˈkænt /

verb (used with object)

to withdraw or disavow (a statement, opinion, etc.), especially formally; retract.

Synonyms:

deny, rescind, recall, revoke

verb (used without object)

to withdraw or disavow a statement, opinion, etc., especially formally.

recant British

/ ˌriːkænˈteɪʃən, rɪˈkænt /

verb

to repudiate or withdraw (a former belief or statement), esp formally in public

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

recantation noun
recanter noun
recantingly adverb
unrecanted adjective
unrecanting adjective

Etymology

Origin of recant

1525–35; < Latin recantāre to sing back, sing again, equivalent to re- re- + cantāre, frequentative of canere to sing; cf. chant

Explanation

If you're someone who speaks before you think, you may need to recant, or take back, that overly honest assessment of your friend's new haircut. Recant comes from two Latin roots: the prefix re-, meaning "back," and the verb cantare, meaning "to sing." It has been suggested that recant was first used when someone reversed a charm, curse, or some other type of magical spell that would have been chanted or sung. Regardless of whether this is true or not, we suggest that you refrain from singing when you need to recant — unless you've been casting nasty spells on people.

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Later that the day, she appeared to recant the remarks in a state TV interview, warning that they should "not be misused".

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2025

Decades after she and her sister had become sensations, Maggie Fox admitted it had all been a hoax — only to recant the confession later.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 11, 2025

It’s also unclear why Autry would recant his testimony now.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 27, 2024

She withdrew the allegation later, but Trump's biographer points out that her alimony payments were likely in danger if she did not recant.

From Salon • May 1, 2023

Editorials would demand that he either recant or retire from public life.

From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023