1 B2 informal
To expect or anticipate something as part of your planning.
"We reckoned on finishing the project by Friday, but a key team member fell ill."
inseparable
reckon on
B2 informal inseparable transitive
To expect or plan for something to happen; to depend on something as part of your calculations.
In plain English
To expect something to happen and make your plans based on that.
What does "reckon on" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 informal
To depend on or count on something or someone.
"You can reckon on her support — she's been with the campaign from the beginning."
inseparable
Usage tip
More common in British English than American English. Often used to indicate that an expectation turned out to be wrong: 'We hadn't reckoned on the traffic'. Followed by a noun or gerund (-ing form).
Words that pair with "reckon on"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
time cost support delay opposition help
How to conjugate "reckon on"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
reckon on
I/you/we/they
3rd person
reckons on
he/she/it
Past simple
reckoned on
yesterday
Past participle
reckoned on
have + pp
-ing form
reckoning on
continuous
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