ˌnəˈɹeɪ.ʃən ˌnɛɚˈɹeɪ.ʃən ˈɹiːdɪŋ ɹɪˈsaɪtl̩ ˌɹɛsəˈteɪʃən jɑːn jɑɹn performance of music or dance especially by soloists the act of giving an account describing incidents or a course of events his narration was hesitant a detailed account or description of something he was forced to listen to a recital of his many shortcomings a public instance of reciting or repeating (from memory) something prepared in advance the program included songs and recitations of well-loved poems