Reckoning
/ˈrɛkənɪŋ/
nounB2
Definition
Reckoning means a moment or process when you have to accept or deal with the results of something you did before. It can also mean a calculation or judgment about what is true or what should happen next. Often, it involves realizing the truth or paying for past actions.
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See It in Action
A time when someone must face consequences or judgment
- •After years of mistakes, the company finally faced its reckoning.
- •The villain’s reckoning came when the truth was revealed.
- •The reckoning for his actions was both painful and necessary.
A calculation or judgment about a situation
- •The reckoning showed that the project would cost more than expected.
- •During the meeting, there was a reckoning of the team’s progress.
- •Her reckoning of the facts helped solve the problem.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "reckoning" like "counting" or "thinking," but it is more serious—it means you are facing important results or truths.
- ✓Picture a clock or calendar marking the day when you must answer for your choices or mistakes.
- ✓It's the feeling when you know you can no longer avoid a problem and must deal with it honestly.
- ✓Sounds like "wreck-uh-ning" → imagine a "wreck" (crash) coming, meaning trouble or consequences are near.
- ✓Think of stories where a hero or villain must face a final challenge or judgment for what they have done.
- ✓NOT like "guessing" (which is uncertain), reckoning is about clear understanding or facing real results.
- ✓NOT like "ignoring" (avoiding problems), reckoning means you cannot avoid what comes next.
- ✓NOT like "celebration" (happy event), reckoning is often serious or even difficult.
Try Other Words
- •Judgment: decision about right or wrong (Use when focusing on deciding or evaluating)
- •Accountability: being responsible for actions (Use when emphasizing responsibility for results)
- •Assessment: careful evaluation or estimation (Use when focusing on analyzing a situation)
- •Settling: resolving or finishing something (Use when talking about ending debts or problems)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: from Old English "recenian" meaning to explain or give an account
- •Etymology: comes from Old English and Old Norse roots related to counting or telling
- •Historical development: originally meant to explain or calculate, later grew to mean facing results or judgment
- •Modern usage: used both for serious moments of facing consequences and for calculations or judgments in everyday life
Reflect & Connect
•When have you experienced a reckoning in your own life, a time you had to face important results or truths?
•How does the idea of reckoning help us understand responsibility and consequences in society?
Fill in the blanks
1.The company’s reckoning came after many years of ___ bad decisions and ignoring warnings.
2.During the reckoning, everyone had to ___ the truth about what really happened.
3.A reckoning is different from a celebration because it usually involves serious ___ or judgment.
4.The final reckoning made it clear that the team needed to ___ their mistakes and improve.
5.In stories, a reckoning often happens when a character must face the ___ of their actions.
6.Reckoning can also mean a careful ___ of numbers or facts to understand a situation better.
7.When someone avoids a reckoning, they try to ___ the problems instead of solving them.