Definition

1. Verb:
   • To calculate or compute: To determine by mathematical means or to count.
   • To consider or regard: To hold a particular opinion or belief about someone or something.
   • To expect or suppose: To think or believe that something is true or will happen.
   • To take into account: To include something in one's plans or calculations.

Examples of Usage

• To calculate:
  • I need to reckon the total cost before we proceed.
  • Can you reckon how many people attended the event?
• To consider or regard:
  • She is reckoned to be one of the finest artists of her generation.
  • I reckon him a trustworthy friend.
• To expect or suppose:
  • I reckon it will take about an hour to get there.
  • "Do you think she'll come?" "I reckon so."
• To take into account:
  • You must reckon with the possibility of bad weather.

Advanced Usage

• "to reckon on/upon (something/someone)": To rely on or expect something to happen.
  • We are reckoning on your support for the project.
  • You can't reckon upon the bus being on time.
• "to reckon with (someone/something)": To consider someone or something as a significant factor that must be dealt with.
  • He is a powerful opponent, and not someone to be reckoned with lightly.
  • The company had to reckon with new regulations.
• "to reckon without (someone/something)": To fail to consider a person or factor, often leading to problems.
  • They planned a picnic but reckoned without the sudden thunderstorm.

Variants and Related Words

• Reckoning (noun):
  • The action of calculating or estimating something. By my reckoning, we should arrive by noon.
  • A settlement of accounts, or a time when past actions are judged. He feared the day of reckoning for his mistakes.

Synonyms

• Calculate, compute, figure: (for the mathematical sense).
• Consider, deem, regard, judge: (for the opinion sense).
• Suppose, believe, think, imagine, guess: (for the expectation sense).
• Anticipate, factor in: (for the sense of taking into account).

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Reckon up: To add up or calculate a total.
  • Could you reckon up the bill, please?
• Reckon in: To include something in a calculation.
  • Did you reckon in the cost of delivery?

Related Idioms

• A force to be reckoned with: A person or thing considered powerful and significant.
  • The new player is a real force to be reckoned with on the field.
• Dead reckoning: A method of calculating one's position based on a previously known location, used in navigation.
  • The sailors used dead reckoning to chart their course.

Verb

1. take account of
   • You have to reckon with our opponents
   • Count on the monsoon
2. have faith or confidence in
   • you can count on me to help you any time
   • Look to your friends for support
   • You can bet on that!
   • Depend on your family in times of crisis
3. make a mathematical calculation or computation
4. deem to be
   • She views this quite differently from me
   • I consider her to be shallow
   • I don't see the situation quite as negatively as you do
5. judge to be probable
6. expect, believe, or suppose
   • I imagine she earned a lot of money with her new novel
   • I thought to find her in a bad state
   • he didn't think to find her in the kitchen
   • I guess she is angry at me for standing her up