reckoning

1 of 2

noun

reck·​on·​ing ˈre-kə-niŋ How to pronounce reckoning (audio)
ˈrek-niŋ
Synonyms of reckoning
1
: the act or an instance of reckoning: such as
a
: account, bill
b
: computation
c
: calculation of a ship's position
2
: a settling of accounts
day of reckoning
3
: a summing up

reckoning

2 of 2

present participle of reckon

Synonyms of reckoning

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Noun

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Examples of reckoning in a Sentence

Noun I was more than $10 off in my reckoning. When the day of reckoning comes, we will have to face some unpleasant truths. Our football team hardly comes into the reckoning. Because of his injury, he is out of the reckoning. The team is still in the reckoning.
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Noun
Sleeping Beauties by David Byrne (Penguin Press, $36) A reckoning with how breakthroughs across the arts and sciences get forgotten, and how they get rediscovered. — Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026 By Google’s reckoning, Carbon is the most capable frontier AI model right now, and its improved capabilities come with more rigorous safeguards. — Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 28 Oct. 2026 New condo rules could drive up ownership costs The reckoning in the US condo market intensified after the 2021 collapse of a building in Surfside, Florida, which killed 98 people. — Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026 Yet the new parties’ emergence, so close to election day, indicates a real reckoning. — Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for reckoning

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of reckoning was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing reckoning

Rhymes for reckoning

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Browse Nearby Words

reckoner
reckoning
reckon on
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Cite this Entry

“Reckoning.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reckoning. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

reckoning

noun
reck·​on·​ing
1
: the act or an instance of calculating
2
: a settling of accounts
day of reckoning
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