other

recatar

to hold back

Definition & meaning

The verb recatar in Spanish has two primary meanings depending on the context:

  1. To act with caution or prudence: It refers to behaving with care, reserve, or modesty, often to avoid being seen or to prevent making a mistake. It implies acting with a sense of wariness or suspicion.
  2. To look for or seek something again: In some regions or specific contexts, it can mean to search for something that was previously lost or to look for something once more.

Grammar & Word origin

  • Grammar: It is a regular -ar verb. It is a transitive verb when it means to look for something, and can be used as a reflexive verb (recatarse ) when it refers to acting with modesty or caution.
  • Word origin: The word comes from the prefix re- (meaning repetition or intensification) and the root catar , which historically meant to look at, observe, or examine.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms:

  • For the sense of acting with caution: prudente , cauteloso , reservado , recatado .
  • For the sense of looking for: buscar , rebuscar , indagar .

Antonyms:

  • For the sense of acting with caution: imprudente , descarado , atrevido .

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Examples

No se recató al expresar sus opiniones.other

He did not hold back when expressing his opinions.

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