recorded; recording; records
1
a(1)
: to set down in writing : furnish written evidence of
(2)
: to deposit an authentic official copy of
record a deed
b
: to state for or as if for the record
voted in favor but recorded certain reservations
2
: to give evidence of
3
: to cause (sound, visual images, data, etc.) to be registered on something (such as a disc or magnetic tape) in reproducible form
: to record something
1
: the state or fact of being recorded
2
: something that records: such as
a
: something that recalls or relates past events
b
: an official document that records the acts of a public body or officer
c
: an authentic official copy of a document deposited with a legally designated officer
d
: the official copy of the papers used in a law case
3
a(1)
: a body of known or recorded facts about something or someone especially with reference to a particular sphere of activity that often forms a discernible pattern
a good academic record
a liberal voting record
(2)
: a collection of related items of information (as in a database) treated as a unit
b(1)
: an attested top performance
(2)
: an unsurpassed statistic
4
: something on which sound or visual images have been recorded
specifically
: a disc with a spiral groove carrying recorded sound for phonograph reproduction
: of, relating to, or being one that is extraordinary among or surpasses others of its kind
record heat
record sales
… major league baseball is coming off a record year when almost 53 million people attended.—
Gerald Eskenazi
Gerald Eskenazi
: a function of an electronic device that causes it to record
Synonyms
Examples of record in a Sentence
Verb
Be sure to record all your business expenditures.
There are similar events all throughout recorded history.
The thermometer recorded 40 degrees below zero.
A seismograph is a device that measures and records the intensity of earthquakes.
Please record the television program for me.
He recorded the birthday party with his new video camera.
He just recorded his latest album.
The show is recorded in front of a live audience.
The band spent all night recording.
Recent Examples on the WebAnthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2024
After all, the audience records that are being broken now were set in the nineteen-eighties and nineties, when the games were on network television, before ESPN bought the rights and buried them.
—Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2024
Our producer in Gaza, Anas Baba, recorded the sound of a mother wailing over her child who was killed.
—Greg Myre, NPR, 6 Apr. 2024
Meteorologist Spencer Tangen told the Idaho Statesman the National Weather Service recorded 2.1 inches of snow at its office near the airport Friday.
—Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 6 Apr. 2024
The strongest earthquake ever recorded happened in Chile in 1960.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2024
Several people recorded the incident and their reactions to it and shared their videos on social media.
—David Chiu, Peoplemag, 5 Apr. 2024
These questions are what initially motivated Lake to record his daughter’s early life.
—Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2024
Over the last half-century, more than 400 quakes of magnitude 3.5 or greater have been recorded across eastern North America, according to the USGS.
—Jenny Jarvie, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024
Michael Wilner, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2024
Meanwhile, youth unemployment is at record highs while price-conscious consumers are forcing investment away from more premium brands toward cheaper alternatives.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 8 Apr. 2024
The news follows last month’s announcement that book-banning attempts have reached record highs.
—Ella Feldman, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Apr. 2024
The surge in union interest follows the UAW's strike against the Big 3 automakers last fall, which led to record contracts.
—Stephan Bisaha, NPR, 5 Apr. 2024
Related article Amid record audiences and surging ticket prices, Caitlin Clark brings ‘more visibility’ to women’s basketball
Utah was staying in Coeur d’Alene because of limited hotel space in Spokane, Washington, where the team was due to play its opening games of March Madness.
—George Ramsay, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
At the time Walker made the statement, in January, the department reported the state in December hit a record high number of jobs for the second straight month, topping 3 million.
—Ricardo Torres, Journal Sentinel, 29 Mar. 2024
The Royal Maundy Service seemed to be a highlight on Queen Elizabeth’s annual calendar, and King Charles’ mother attended the event almost every year of her record 70-year reign.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 28 Mar. 2024
The Baltimore port is the largest in the US for autos and light trucks, handling a record 850,000 vehicles last year.
—Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN, 28 Mar. 2024
Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024
Davidson County Sheriff's Office online records show Wallen was booked into jail at 12:36 a.m.
—Naledi Ushe, USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2024
After hosting four concerts last year — including the first two-night stadium run ever in Milwaukee, with Morgan Wallen, and shows with George Strait and Pink that both broke attendance records — American Family Field is ready to host four more in 2024.
—Journal Sentinel, 10 Apr. 2024
Ahead of the game, Tuchel sounded confident that Kane would extend his incredible record against Arsenal.
—Matias Grez, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
The Huskies won their ninth straight NCAA Tournament game by double digits, tying the record of Michigan State in 2001.
—Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2024
The records also indicate that Padilla-Padilla entered the U.S. at some point in 2001 but was later denied entry in 2005 and 2010, the memo states.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 29 Mar. 2024
And the release date for the record is going to be in November or something like that.
—Gen Handley, SPIN, 29 Mar. 2024
In most cases, the electronic health records used by physicians are incompatible with those used by dentists, so sharing information electronically is impossible.
—Lola Butcher, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Mar. 2024
Verb
Bam Adebayo recorded 20 points, 12 rebounds and three assists for Miami.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2024
After all, the audience records that are being broken now were set in the nineteen-eighties and nineties, when the games were on network television, before ESPN bought the rights and buried them.
—Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2024
Our producer in Gaza, Anas Baba, recorded the sound of a mother wailing over her child who was killed.
—Greg Myre, NPR, 6 Apr. 2024
Meteorologist Spencer Tangen told the Idaho Statesman the National Weather Service recorded 2.1 inches of snow at its office near the airport Friday.
—Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 6 Apr. 2024
The strongest earthquake ever recorded happened in Chile in 1960.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2024
Several people recorded the incident and their reactions to it and shared their videos on social media.
—David Chiu, Peoplemag, 5 Apr. 2024
These questions are what initially motivated Lake to record his daughter’s early life.
—Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2024
Over the last half-century, more than 400 quakes of magnitude 3.5 or greater have been recorded across eastern North America, according to the USGS.
—Jenny Jarvie, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024
Adjective
The recent influx of migrants — the largest in modern American history — reflects not just a broken immigration system unable to handle record encounters at the border with Mexico, but a trend of instability across the Western Hemisphere that bears no signs of relief.
—Michael Wilner, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2024
Meanwhile, youth unemployment is at record highs while price-conscious consumers are forcing investment away from more premium brands toward cheaper alternatives.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 8 Apr. 2024
The news follows last month’s announcement that book-banning attempts have reached record highs.
—Ella Feldman, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Apr. 2024
The surge in union interest follows the UAW's strike against the Big 3 automakers last fall, which led to record contracts.
—Stephan Bisaha, NPR, 5 Apr. 2024
Related article Amid record audiences and surging ticket prices, Caitlin Clark brings ‘more visibility’ to women’s basketball
Utah was staying in Coeur d’Alene because of limited hotel space in Spokane, Washington, where the team was due to play its opening games of March Madness.
—George Ramsay, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
At the time Walker made the statement, in January, the department reported the state in December hit a record high number of jobs for the second straight month, topping 3 million.
—Ricardo Torres, Journal Sentinel, 29 Mar. 2024
The Royal Maundy Service seemed to be a highlight on Queen Elizabeth’s annual calendar, and King Charles’ mother attended the event almost every year of her record 70-year reign.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 28 Mar. 2024
The Baltimore port is the largest in the US for autos and light trucks, handling a record 850,000 vehicles last year.
—Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN, 28 Mar. 2024
Noun
Still, seconds later, one of the deputies — later identified as Vega in county records — fired a shot into Cervantes’ side.
—Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024
Davidson County Sheriff's Office online records show Wallen was booked into jail at 12:36 a.m.
—Naledi Ushe, USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2024
After hosting four concerts last year — including the first two-night stadium run ever in Milwaukee, with Morgan Wallen, and shows with George Strait and Pink that both broke attendance records — American Family Field is ready to host four more in 2024.
—Journal Sentinel, 10 Apr. 2024
Ahead of the game, Tuchel sounded confident that Kane would extend his incredible record against Arsenal.
—Matias Grez, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
The Huskies won their ninth straight NCAA Tournament game by double digits, tying the record of Michigan State in 2001.
—Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2024
The records also indicate that Padilla-Padilla entered the U.S. at some point in 2001 but was later denied entry in 2005 and 2010, the memo states.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 29 Mar. 2024
And the release date for the record is going to be in November or something like that.
—Gen Handley, SPIN, 29 Mar. 2024
In most cases, the electronic health records used by physicians are incompatible with those used by dentists, so sharing information electronically is impossible.
—Lola Butcher, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'record.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English, literally, to recall, from Anglo-French recorder, from Latin recordari, from re- + cord-, cor heart — more at heart
First Known Use
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a(1)
Noun (1)
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adjective
1884, in the meaning defined above
Noun (2)
1946, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of record was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing record
Dictionary Entries Near record
Cite this Entry
“Record.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/record. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
record
1 of 3 verb
re·cord
ri-ˈkȯ(ə)rd 
1
a
: to set down in writing
b
: to deposit an authentic official copy of
record a deed
c
: to register permanently
events recorded in history
d
: indicate sense 1a, read
the thermometer recorded 40°
2
: to give evidence of
3
: to change sound or visual images into a form (as on magnetic tape) that can be listened to or watched at a later time
record
2 of 3 noun
rec·ord
ˈrek-ərd
also -ˌȯrd
1
: the state or fact of being recorded
on record
2
a
: something that recalls or tells about past events
b
: an official writing that records what has been said or done by a group, organization, or official
c
: an authentic official copy of a document
3
a
: the known or recorded facts about something or someone
my school record
b
: a recorded top performance or achievement
broke the high jump record
4
: something on which sound or visual images have been recorded
record
3 of 3 adjective
rec·ord
ˈrek-ərd
: setting a record : outstanding among other like things
a record crop
record prices
Legal Definition
record
1 of 2 transitive verb
re·cord
ri-ˈkȯrd
1
: to put in a record
2
: to deposit or otherwise cause to be registered in the appropriate office as a record and notice of a title or interest in property
record a deed
record a mortgage
see also recording act
3
: to cause (as sound, images, or data) to be registered on something in reproducible form
record a telephone conversation
: to record something
record
2 of 2 noun
rec·ord
ˈre-kərd
1
: the documentary account of something
confidential medical records
: as
a
: an official document that records the acts of a public body or officer
b
: an official copy of a document deposited with a designated officer
c
: the official set of papers used and generated in a proceeding
the appeals court reviewed the trial record
d
: documented evidence or history of one or more arrests or convictions see also business records exception, public records exception
2
: something (as a disc or tape) on which images, sound, or data has been recorded
More from Merriam-Webster on record
Nglish: Translation of record for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of record for Arabic Speakers
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