1 C1 idiomatic neutral
to include a fact, difficulty, or possibility in your thinking
"You have to reckon with higher costs when you move to the city center."
inseparable
reckon with
C1 neutral inseparable transitive
to consider something carefully or to face and deal with it
In plain English
to remember that something matters, or to deal with it because you cannot ignore it
What does "reckon with" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 idiomatic neutral
to face and deal with someone or something powerful, difficult, or threatening
"Any government that ignores public anger will eventually have to reckon with it."
“
He's a force to be reckoned with.
— Common media quotation and sports/journalism formula
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
to calculate together with something
Actually means
to remember that something matters, or to deal with it because you cannot ignore it
Usage tip
This phrase has two main uses: considering a factor in a situation, and facing a person or force that is powerful or difficult. It is more advanced than 'deal with'.
Words that pair with "reckon with"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
fact possibility problem opposition force consequences
How to conjugate "reckon with"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
reckon with
I/you/we/they
3rd person
reckons with
he/she/it
Past simple
reckoned with
yesterday
Past participle
reckoned with
have + pp
-ing form
reckoning with
continuous
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