1. to give a brief summary of the main points of something
Usage: formal
2. to repeat the stages of evolutionary or individual development
Usage: biology; technical

Examples

• Let me recapitulate the key findings from our research.
• The professor asked students to recapitulate the main themes of the novel.
• Before we vote, I’ll recapitulate the three proposals we’ve discussed.
• The chairman recapitulated the committee’s recommendations.
• In biology class, we learned how embryos recapitulate evolutionary history.
• The speaker recapitulated her argument in the final paragraph.