Recapitulation: meaning, definitions and examples

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recapitulation

[ˌriː.kəˌpɪtʃ.əˈleɪ.ʃən ]

Definition

^{Context #1 | Noun}

in academic or professional settings

A recapitulation is a summary or restatement of the main points of something. It is often used to review or go over key information that has been presented.

Synonyms

reiteration, review, summary.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
recapitulation	Used in formal or academic settings to describe the act of summarizing the main points of a speech, text, or argument. The recapitulation of the thesis highlighted the key findings of the research. In the recapitulation of the lecture, the professor emphasized the critical concepts.
summary	Used widely in both formal and informal settings to provide a brief statement or account of the main points of something. He gave a brief summary of the event to the absent team members. The book's summary on the back cover intrigued her.
review	Used to denote a general or detailed examination or assessment of something, whether it's in educational, professional, or casual contexts. The quarterly review covered all the team’s recent projects. She decided to do a quick review of her notes before the exam.
reiteration	Commonly used in both formal and informal settings to emphasize a point by repeating it, often indicating insistence or urgency. His constant reiteration of the safety measures underscored their importance. The CEO's reiteration of the company's goals reassured the employees.

Examples of usage

The professor provided a recapitulation of the key concepts covered in the lecture.
After the meeting, there was a brief recapitulation of the decisions that had been made.
The recapitulation at the end of the report highlighted the most important findings.
The recapitulation of the experiment helped to reinforce the key findings.
The recapitulation of the book's main themes was useful for students preparing for the exam.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word comes from the Latin 'recapitulare', which means 'to go over the main points again'.
It is formed by 're-', meaning 'again', and 'capitulum', meaning 'heading' or 'chapter'.
This term first entered the English language in the late 17th century.

Education

Teachers often use recapitulation at the end of a lesson to reinforce what students have learned.
It's a helpful technique in study and revision, allowing learners to summarize their notes.
The concept is widely used in various educational methods to boost retention and understanding.

Music

In music, recapitulation refers to a section in sonata form where themes from the beginning are revisited.
Composers like Beethoven and Mozart masterfully employed recapitulation to give structure to their symphonies.
This technique helps listeners recognize and remember musical themes throughout a piece.

Psychology

Research suggests that recapitulation enhances memory, as reviewing information helps it stick in our minds.
This concept is often related to the 'spacing effect', where information is better remembered when revisited over time.
Recapitulation can also be associated with discussions of cognitive development, where earlier ideas are revisited as knowledge expands.

Literature

In literature, authors sometimes recap plot points in a narrative to remind readers of significant details.
Classical works often employed recapitulation to refresh readers' memories before diving back into the story.
Many modern novels or series use this technique in previous chapters or episodes to help reconnect the storyline.

Translations

Translations of the word "recapitulation" in other languages:

🇵🇹 recapitulação

🇮🇳 पुनरावृत्ति

🇩🇪 Zusammenfassung

🇮🇩 rekapitulasi

🇺🇦 резюме

підсумок
рекапитуляція

🇵🇱 podsumowanie

🇯🇵 まとめ

🇫🇷 récapitulation

🇪🇸 recapitulación

🇹🇷 özet

🇰🇷 요약

🇸🇦 تلخيص

🇨🇿 rekapitulace

🇸🇰 rekapitulácia

🇨🇳 概述 (gàishù)

🇸🇮 rekapitulacija

🇮🇸 yfirlit

🇰🇿 қорытынды

🇬🇪 რეკაპიტულაცია

🇦🇿 xülasə

🇲🇽 recapitulación

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #20,985, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.

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20982 dismantle
20983 voiceless
20984 wrest
20985 recapitulation
20986 classically
20987 xylem
20988 entrant
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