Record (noun, /ˈrek.əd/) — information that is stored or kept for future reference; also, the best performance ever achieved in a particular activity.
Record (verb, /rɪˈkɔːd/) — to store sound, images, or data so they can be heard, seen, or used again later.
Record (adjective, /ˈrek.əd/) — describes something at the highest or best level ever reached: record profits, record temperatures.
What Does Record Mean?
Record is one of English's most versatile words — it functions as a noun, a verb, and an adjective, and its pronunciation actually shifts depending on which role it plays. This stress-shift pattern (noun on the first syllable, verb on the second) is a hallmark of two-syllable pairs in English and is covered in more detail in the Usage Notes section below.
The noun sense divides broadly into two meanings. In formal and administrative contexts, a record is a written or stored account kept for future reference: a medical record, a criminal record, a school attendance record. In sport and achievement contexts, the record is the best performance ever documented: the world record for the 100-metre sprint, the all-time sales record.
The verb to record means to capture something — sound on a track, data in a file, events in a journal — so that it persists beyond the moment. The adjective use is more limited: it always appears before a noun and always signals the superlative of achievement (record turnout, a record-breaking season).
The featured example sentence — "She broke the school record for the highest score in the reading test" — illustrates the noun at B1 level and uses the most common verb collocation: break a record.
Example Sentences by Level
| Sentence | Level & usage note |
|---|---|
| She broke the school record for the highest score in the reading test. | A2 — noun (achievement), collocation: break a record |
| The teacher asked us to record our results in the table on page twelve. | B1 — verb (write down / document) |
| The hospital keeps a detailed record of every patient who visits the clinic. | B1 — noun (stored information), collocation: keep a record |
| The band decided to record their new album in a studio in Bristol. | B2 — verb (capture audio), noun derived: recording |
| Temperatures reached record highs last summer, prompting warnings from health authorities. | C1 — adjective (highest ever), formal register, news style |
Collocations
| Collocation | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| break a record | She broke the world record by three seconds. | surpass the best performance previously achieved |
| set a record | He set a new record at the national championships. | achieve a best performance for the first time |
| hold a record | She still holds the record for fastest completion. | currently be the record holder |
| beat a record | No one has beaten that record in twenty years. | surpass a record (informal synonym of break) |
| keep a record | Always keep a record of your expenses. | maintain a written log or account |
| track record | The candidate has an impressive track record. | history of past achievements or performance |
| criminal record | He had no previous criminal record. | official file of a person's criminal convictions |
| on record | This is the hottest year on record. | documented in official records; ever measured |
| off the record | She told me, strictly off the record, what happened. | informally, not for publication or quotation |
| record-breaking | The film had a record-breaking opening weekend. | surpassing all previous best performances (adjective) |
Usage Notes
Stress shift — noun vs. verb. When record is a noun or adjective, stress the first syllable: RECord (/ˈrek.əd/). When it is a verb, stress the second syllable: reCORD (/rɪˈkɔːd/). This same pattern applies to other two-syllable noun/verb pairs in English: PERmit / perMIT, PROtest / proTEST, EXport / exPORT.
Record as an adjective. In this use, record always precedes the noun and means "the highest or greatest ever". It does not change form: record profits, record attendance, a record number of applicants. Do not add -s, -ed, or -ing in this role.
Keep vs. break vs. set. Use keep a record when talking about maintaining a log or file. Use set a record for the first time a best performance is documented. Use break or beat a record for surpassing one that already exists. These three verbs are not interchangeable.
Formal and informal register. On the record / off the record belong to formal journalism, legal, and business contexts. Smash a record is informal and appears mainly in sports journalism and everyday speech.
Common Mistakes
Watch Out For
She made a new record in the 200 metres. (wrong verb collocation)
She set / broke a new record in the 200 metres.
I want to record the history of my family since years. (wrong preposition and tense)
I want to record my family's history over the years.
It was a records high temperature for June. (adjective form does not take plural -s)
It was a record high temperature for June.
The teacher told us to record on our results in the book. (unnecessary preposition)
The teacher told us to record our results in the book.