From Middle English rekenen, from Old English recenian (“to pay; arrange, dispose, reckon”) and ġerecenian (“to explain, recount, relate”); both from Proto-West Germanic *rekanōn (“to count, explain”), from Proto-West Germanic *rekan (“swift, ready, prompt”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- (“to make straight or right”).
Cognate with Scots rekkin (“to enumerate, mention, narrate, rehearse, count, calculate, compute”), Saterland Frisian reekenje (“to calculate, figure, reckon”), West Frisian rekkenje (“to account, tally, calculate, figure”), Dutch rekenen (“to count, calculate, reckon, charge”), German Low German reken (“to reckon”), German rechnen (“to count, reckon, calculate”), Danish regne (“to calculate”), Swedish räkna (“to count, calculate, reckon”), Norwegian Nynorsk rekna (“to calculate”), Icelandic reikna (“to calculate”), Latin rectus (“straight, right”). See also reck, reach.
Meanings
(Commonwealth, informal) An impression or opinion.
I have beckoned vigorously & my reckons have passed into a vast sea of stones, rearing the strong feelings, the dawn of light emerged; surfacing the depths of the deep & the depths was beckoning coldly. 2020, Marvin J. Everheart, The Vision of M.E.:
Shaggy asked him, ' 'Ow dew yew a reckon on your turnips, Fred?' 2009, Brendan Behan, Borstal Boy, page 264:
I wouldn't get much of an idea what the site was like until daylight but it was close to the cook fires and the food stalls and entertainment tents so, my reckons it was perfect. 2020, R. H. van de Weert, Reveille:
Here's my reckon on mass incarceration. 2023, Eleanor Catton, Birnam Wood, page 37:
From Middle English rekenen, from Old English recenian (“to pay; arrange, dispose, reckon”) and ġerecenian (“to explain, recount, relate”); both from Proto-West Germanic *rekanōn (“to count, explain”), from Proto-West Germanic *rekan (“swift, ready, prompt”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- (“to make straight or right”).
Cognate with Scots rekkin (“to enumerate, mention, narrate, rehearse, count, calculate, compute”), Saterland Frisian reekenje (“to calculate, figure, reckon”), West Frisian rekkenje (“to account, tally, calculate, figure”), Dutch rekenen (“to count, calculate, reckon, charge”), German Low German reken (“to reckon”), German rechnen (“to count, reckon, calculate”), Danish regne (“to calculate”), Swedish räkna (“to count, calculate, reckon”), Norwegian Nynorsk rekna (“to calculate”), Icelandic reikna (“to calculate”), Latin rectus (“straight, right”). See also reck, reach.
Meanings
(Commonwealth) To count; to enumerate; to number; also, to compute; to calculate.
For all the king counted and pointed and reckoned, he could not find as much as a hair of them missing. 1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 175:
then the priest shall reckon unto him the money according to the years that remain 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Leviticus 27:18:
I reckoned above two hundred and fifty on the outside of the church. 1705, J[oseph] Addison, Remarks on Several Parts of Italy, &c. in the Years 1701, 1702, 1703, London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
(Commonwealth) To count as in a number, rank, or series; to estimate by rank or quality; to place by estimation; to account; to esteem; to repute.
He was reckoned among the transgressors 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Isaiah 53:12:
For him I reckon not in high estate Whom long descent of birth, Or the sphere of fortune, raises 1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes, […]”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC:
(Commonwealth) To charge, attribute, or adjudge to one, as having a certain quality or value.
Without her eccentricities being reckoned to her for a crime. 1850, Nathaniel Hawthorne, chapter 10, in The Scarlet Letter, a Romance, Boston, Mass.: Ticknor, Reed, and Fields, →OCLC:
[…] faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Romans 4:9:
(Commonwealth, colloquial) To conclude, as by an enumeration and balancing of chances; hence, to think; to suppose; -- followed by an objective clause
I reckon he won't try that again.
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Romans 6:11:
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Romans 8:18:
I’ve just heard from the repairman: it's going to cost £1000. I'd reckoned it’d be £500 at most.
"Game over," Waddicor warns. "Look at the fuel gauge. Someone's forgotten to fill up." The heavily laden train has come from Freightliner's Maritime Terminal in Southampton's western docks. Waddicor reckons there might not be enough diesel in the tank to complete the journey. 2025 August 20, Paul Clifton, “A driver's eye view of East West Rail”, in RAIL, number 1042, page 30:
The working life span of a passenger carriage, on average, is between 30 and 35 years, so a steady replacement takes place quite naturally. The life span of a station, however, cannot be so easily reckoned, for it depends largely on the rehabilitation and upkeep of the existing structures. 1962 October, Brian Haresnape, “Focus on B.R. passenger stations”, in Modern Railways, page 250:
(Commonwealth) To reckon with something or somebody or not, i.e. to reckon without something or somebody: to take into account, deal with, consider or not, i.e. to misjudge, ignore, not take into account, not deal with, not consider or fail to consider; e.g. reckon without one's host
There are hardships that nobody reckons;
There are valleys unpeopled and still;
There’s a land—oh, it beckons and beckons,
And I want to go back—and I will. 1907, Robert W. Service, The Spell of the Yukon:
(Commonwealth, intransitive) To make an enumeration or computation; to engage in numbering or computing.
(Commonwealth) To come to an accounting; to draw up or settle accounts; to examine and strike the balance of debt and credit; to adjust relations of desert or penalty.
suppose (conclude, suppose) · value (attribute a value) · enumerate (count) · figure (conclude, suppose) · compute (calculate) · compute (make an enumeration) · guess (conclude, suppose) · esteem (conclude, suppose) · esteem (attribute a value) · enumerate (make an enumeration) · calculate (calculate) · think (conclude, suppose) · believe (conclude, suppose) · rate (attribute a value) · number (count)
Translations (84)
ru счита́ть (colloquial: to conclude, as by an enumeration and balancing of chances; hence, to think; to suppose) · it valutare (colloquial: to conclude, as by an enumeration and balancing of chances; hence, to think; to suppose) · de zu etwas rechnen (to count as in a number, rank, or series; to estimate by rank or quality; to place by estimation) · bg считам (to count as in a number, rank, or series; to estimate by rank or quality; to place by estimation) · de zusammenrechnen (to count; to enumerate; to number; also, to compute; to calculate) · de mutmaßen (colloquial: to conclude, as by an enumeration and balancing of chances; hence, to think; to suppose) · de rechnen mit (colloquial: to conclude, as by an enumeration and balancing of chances; hence, to think; to suppose) · bg изчислявам (to count; to enumerate; to number; also, to compute; to calculate) · es saldar (to come to an accounting; to make up accounts; to settle) · fi arvella (colloquial: to conclude, as by an enumeration and balancing of chances; hence, to think; to suppose) · de anerkennen (to charge, attribute, or adjudge to one, as having a certain quality or value) · bg броя (to make an enumeration or computation; to engage in numbering or computing) · pt considerar (to charge, attribute, or adjudge to one, as having a certain quality or value) · fr compter (to count as in a number, rank, or series; to estimate by rank or quality; to place by estimation) · fi lukea (to charge, attribute, or adjudge to one, as having a certain quality or value) · zh 研判 (colloquial: to conclude, as by an enumeration and balancing of chances; hence, to think; to suppose) · fi laskea (to count as in a number, rank, or series; to estimate by rank or quality; to place by estimation) · yi מיינען (colloquial: to conclude, as by an enumeration and balancing of chances; hence, to think; to suppose) · de berechnen (to count; to enumerate; to number; also, to compute; to calculate) · bg считам за (to charge, attribute, or adjudge to one, as having a certain quality or value) · pt concluir (colloquial: to conclude, as by an enumeration and balancing of chances; hence, to think; to suppose) · pt calcular (to count; to enumerate; to number; also, to compute; to calculate) · de sich ausrechnen (colloquial: to conclude, as by an enumeration and balancing of chances; hence, to think; to suppose) · ro socoti (to count; to enumerate; to number; also, to compute; to calculate) · fi arvuutella (colloquial: to conclude, as by an enumeration and balancing of chances; hence, to think; to suppose) · fi päättää (colloquial: to conclude, as by an enumeration and balancing of chances; hence, to think; to suppose) · yi רעכענען (to count; to enumerate; to number; also, to compute; to calculate) · ceb suma (to count; to enumerate; to number; also, to compute; to calculate) · fr compter (to count; to enumerate; to number; also, to compute; to calculate) · bg смятам (to count; to enumerate; to number; also, to compute; to calculate) · fr calculer (to count; to enumerate; to number; also, to compute; to calculate) · de beimessen (to charge, attribute, or adjudge to one, as having a certain quality or value) · de schätzen (colloquial: to conclude, as by an enumeration and balancing of chances; hence, to think; to suppose) · de abrechnen (to come to an accounting; to make up accounts; to settle) · fi laskea (to count; to enumerate; to number; also, to compute; to calculate) · es tantear (colloquial: to conclude, as by an enumeration and balancing of chances; hence, to think; to suppose) · pt julgar (to charge, attribute, or adjudge to one, as having a certain quality or value) · it stimare (colloquial: to conclude, as by an enumeration and balancing of chances; hence, to think; to suppose) · eo kalkuli (to count; to enumerate; to number; also, to compute; to calculate) · de zurechnen (to count as in a number, rank, or series; to estimate by rank or quality; to place by estimation) · es censar (to count; to enumerate; to number; also, to compute; to calculate) · de errechnen (to count; to enumerate; to number; also, to compute; to calculate) · got 𐌼𐌿𐌽𐌰𐌽 (colloquial: to conclude, as by an enumeration and balancing of chances; hence, to think; to suppose) · fi lukea (to count as in a number, rank, or series; to estimate by rank or quality; to place by estimation) · ru подсчи́тывать (to count; to enumerate; to number; also, to compute; to calculate) · ru счита́ть (to count as in a number, rank, or series; to estimate by rank or quality; to place by estimation) · bg преброявам (to make an enumeration or computation; to engage in numbering or computing) · it reputare (colloquial: to conclude, as by an enumeration and balancing of chances; hence, to think; to suppose) · bg смятам (to count as in a number, rank, or series; to estimate by rank or quality; to place by estimation) · de zusprechen (to charge, attribute, or adjudge to one, as having a certain quality or value) · pt considerar (colloquial: to conclude, as by an enumeration and balancing of chances; hence, to think; to suppose) · fi laskea (to make an enumeration or computation; to engage in numbering or computing) · ru счита́ть (to count; to enumerate; to number; also, to compute; to calculate) · de rechnen (to count; to enumerate; to number; also, to compute; to calculate) · de zuschreiben (to charge, attribute, or adjudge to one, as having a certain quality or value) · fi luetella (to count; to enumerate; to number; also, to compute; to calculate) · ceb suma (to charge, attribute, or adjudge to one, as having a certain quality or value) · nl veronderstellen (colloquial: to conclude, as by an enumeration and balancing of chances; hence, to think; to suppose) · vi tính toán (to count; to enumerate; to number; also, to compute; to calculate) · fr estimer (to count as in a number, rank, or series; to estimate by rank or quality; to place by estimation) · de ausrechnen (to count; to enumerate; to number; also, to compute; to calculate) · ca comptar (to count; to enumerate; to number; also, to compute; to calculate) · bg оправям сметките (to come to an accounting; to make up accounts; to settle) · bg разчитам на (colloquial: to conclude, as by an enumeration and balancing of chances; hence, to think; to suppose) · de vermuten (colloquial: to conclude, as by an enumeration and balancing of chances; hence, to think; to suppose) · fi räknätä (to count; to enumerate; to number; also, to compute; to calculate) · de zu etwas zählen (to count as in a number, rank, or series; to estimate by rank or quality; to place by estimation) · ca considerar (colloquial: to conclude, as by an enumeration and balancing of chances; hence, to think; to suppose) · yi חשבונען (to count; to enumerate; to number; also, to compute; to calculate) · de verleihen (to charge, attribute, or adjudge to one, as having a certain quality or value) · mn үзэх (to charge, attribute, or adjudge to one, as having a certain quality or value) · pt estimar (to count as in a number, rank, or series; to estimate by rank or quality; to place by estimation) · fi arvata (colloquial: to conclude, as by an enumeration and balancing of chances; hence, to think; to suppose) · fr estimer (colloquial: to conclude, as by an enumeration and balancing of chances; hence, to think; to suppose) · ro calcula (to count; to enumerate; to number; also, to compute; to calculate) · vi tính toán (colloquial: to conclude, as by an enumeration and balancing of chances; hence, to think; to suppose) · pt contar (to count; to enumerate; to number; also, to compute; to calculate) · es finiquitar (to come to an accounting; to make up accounts; to settle) · mn үзэх (colloquial: to conclude, as by an enumeration and balancing of chances; hence, to think; to suppose) · ca creure (colloquial: to conclude, as by an enumeration and balancing of chances; hence, to think; to suppose) · sh izračunati (to count; to enumerate; to number; also, to compute; to calculate) · fr considérer (colloquial: to conclude, as by an enumeration and balancing of chances; hence, to think; to suppose) · ru полага́ть (colloquial: to conclude, as by an enumeration and balancing of chances; hence, to think; to suppose) · my တွက် (to count; to enumerate; to number; also, to compute; to calculate)