recant
/ɹəˈkænt/
Group 28Difficulty 2/3
Definition
- (verb)
- To say that one no longer holds an opinion or belief, especially one considered heretical GRE
Example in Context
Under mounting pressure from the evidence, the witness recanted his earlier testimony and admitted that he had fabricated key details.
Synonyms
take backretractwithdraw
Etymology
Literally means to 'sing again' in the sense of retracting a previous statement.
- re- (Latin) — again
- cantare (Latin) — to sing
Memory Aid
🔄Sounds like “re-cant”
A singer who had to RECANT their lyrics during a concert because they forgot them — OOPS!
Visual Association
🚫A singer on stage, red-faced and embarrassed, holding a mic and saying 'I take it back!' to a bewildered audience.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “recant” mean on the GRE?
recant (verb) means “To say that one no longer holds an opinion or belief, especially one considered heretical”. Under mounting pressure from the evidence, the witness recanted his earlier testimony and admitted that he had fabricated key details.
How to remember “recant” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “recant” sounds like “re-cant”. A singer who had to RECANT their lyrics during a concert because they forgot them — OOPS!
What are synonyms for “recant”?
Common synonyms: take back, retract, withdraw.