This is the 11870th most frequent Russian word.
записывали
"Записывали" means "were recording" or "were writing down."
In this case, 'записывали' indicates the action of recording the lecture in written form or electronically.
Они записывали лекцию на своих ноутбуках.
They were recording the lecture on their laptops.
Here, 'записывали' refers to writing down or documenting the word in a dictionary.
В прошлый раз мы записывали это слово в словаре.
Last time we wrote this word in the dictionary.
Here, 'записывали' is used to describe participants filling out information or preferences on forms or questionnaires.