recall

/ɹɪˈkɔːl/

//ɹɪˈkɔːl// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"recall" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“recall” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #3,650 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#3,650
frequency rank, English
6
letters
7
tracked misspellings
14
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To withdraw, retract (one's words etc.); to revoke (an order).

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

recall vs recap
67% similar
recall vs renal
67% similar
recall vs regal
67% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for recall
PropertyValue
Headwordrecall
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ɹɪˈkɔːl/
Letters6
Frequency rank#3,650
Misspellings tracked7
Confusable pairs14
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “recall” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). recall lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for recall is 6 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɹɪˈkɔːl/. Corpus data places it at rank #3,650 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 8 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 7 likely wrong-spelling variants for recall, with forms such as "ercall", "rceall", and "reacll". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 14 confusable-pair relationships, "recap", "renal", "regal", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From re- + call, probably modelled on Latin revocāre, French rappeler, English withcall. The correct English form is recall, spelled R-E-C-A-L-L.

Definition

  1. 1
    To withdraw, retract (one's words etc.); to revoke (an order).
  2. 2
    To call back, bring back, or summon (someone) to a specific place, station, etc.
  3. 3
    To remove an elected official through a petition and direct vote.
  4. 4
    To bring back (someone) to or from a particular mental or physical state, activity etc.
  5. 5
    To call back (a situation, event, etc.) to one's mind; to remember; to recollect.
  6. 6
    To hearken back to, evoke; to be reminiscent of.
  7. 7
    To call again; to call another time.
  8. 8
    To request or order the return of (a faulty product).

Etymology

From re- + call, probably modelled on Latin revocāre, French rappeler, English withcall.

This word in other languages

recordar(Español)rappeler(Français)zurückrufen(Deutsch)lembrar(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ercall,rceall,reacll,recal,reccall,reclal,rrecall

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of recall - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

ercall2rceall2reacll2recal1reccall1reclal2rrecall1
Edit distance from "recall"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "recall"?
"recall" is spelled R-E-C-A-L-L. The IPA pronunciation is /ɹɪˈkɔːl/.
What does "recall" mean?
As a verb, "recall" means: To withdraw, retract (one's words etc.); to revoke (an order).
What words are commonly confused with "recall"?
"recall" is commonly confused with "recap", "renal", "regal". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "recall"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "recall" is /ɹɪˈkɔːl/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "recall"?
From re- + call, probably modelled on Latin revocāre, French rappeler, English withcall. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “recall”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is R-E-C-A-L-L - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ɹɪˈkɔːl/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “recap” - see the side-by-side comparison. recall vs recap
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list