reckoning

noun

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

Examples of reckoning in a Sentence

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.
Recent Examples on the Web This spurred a national reckoning over Confederate imagery in public spaces. Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024 The arrests plunged Brazil into another national reckoning over corruption and impunity, as commentators flooded social media with reactions to the arrests and leftist politicians applauded the operation. Marina Dias, Washington Post, 24 Mar. 2024 The 2016 election was marked by Russian disinformation campaigns on Facebook; the 2020 campaign offered a reckoning over the Hunter Biden laptop story on Twitter and then the major platforms finally banning Donald Trump after the January 6th attacks. Gaby Del Valle, The Verge, 21 Mar. 2024 But as the 10th anniversary of the Myles traffic stop approaches, the full reckoning of what county employees have done has yet to be calculated — in dollars or broader damages. Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2024 The national reckoning over racial justice after the killing of George Floyd spurred many of the country’s most distinguished institutions into action, few more so than the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Brooks Barnes, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024 Yet others who live in Owasso don’t see the reckoning after Nex’s death as a hometown issue. USA TODAY, 2 Mar. 2024 Like the Beatles of Rubber Soul, the Ariana Grande of Eternal Sunshine is combining a musical renewal with a personal reckoning. Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 13 Mar. 2024 But growing criticism from some parents, teachers and students in the mid-2010s triggered a reckoning in the sector. Emma Bubola, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reckoning.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Dictionary Entries Near reckoning

Cite this Entry

“Reckoning.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reckoning. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

reckoning

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

More from Merriam-Webster on reckoning

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