Definition
To think or believe something, often without being completely certain; also, to calculate or count something.
Example
I reckon we'll need about an hour to get there.
Show translation
I think we'll need about an hour to get there.
Etymology
From Old English *gerecenian* ("to explain, recount"), related to Old High German *rehhōn* ("to count"). By Middle English it had narrowed to arithmetic calculation, then broadened again in colloquial use to mean "suppose" or "believe" — a journey from counting beans to counting opinions.
Cultural note
*Reckon* as a synonym for "think" or "suppose" is strongly associated with American Southern dialects and British regional speech (especially the North and Midlands). In General American or standard British English it can sound folksy or informal. Learners should note it is not interchangeable with "reckon" in its mathematical sense (e.g., "a force to be reckoned with"), which is entirely standard and formal across all varieties.