recharge

American  

[ree-chahrj, ree-chahrj, ree-chahrj] / riˈtʃɑrdʒ, riˈtʃɑrdʒ, ˈriˌtʃɑrdʒ /

verb (used with object)

• recharges,
  present (3rd person singular)
• recharged,
  past participle,  past
• recharging
  present participle

1. to charge again with electricity.

2. Informal. to refresh or restore; revitalize.

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verb (used without object)

• recharges,
  present (3rd person singular)
• recharged,
  past participle,  past
• recharging
  present participle

1. to make a new charge, especially to attack again.

2. Informal. to revive or restore energy, stamina, enthusiasm, etc.

noun

• recharges
  plural

1. an act or instance of recharging.

2. Geology. the processes by which groundwater is absorbed into the zone of saturation.

recharge British  

/ riːˈtʃɑːdʒ /

verb

1. to cause (an accumulator, capacitor, etc) to take up and store electricity again

2. to revive or renew (one's energies) (esp in recharge one's batteries )

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• recharger
  noun
• rechargeable
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• recharges
  plural

Participles

• recharging
  present
• recharged
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• recharge
  simple
• recharges
  simple
• have recharged
  perfect
• has recharged
  perfect
• am recharging
  progressive
• are recharging
  progressive
• is recharging
  progressive
• have been recharging
  perfect progressive
• has been recharging
  perfect progressive

Past

• recharged
  simple
• had recharged
  perfect
• was recharging
  progressive
• were recharging
  progressive
• had been recharging
  perfect progressive

Future

• will recharge
  simple
• will have recharged
  perfect
• will be recharging
  progressive
• will have been recharging
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of recharge

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English: “to reload (a vessel)”; see re-, charge

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Explanation

When you recharge something, you bring it back to life or reenergize it. You might charge your cell phone in the morning and then recharge it later in the day. If you can charge your electronics (or provide them with electrical energy), you can also recharge them when that energy is depleted. In addition to your camera battery and laptop, sometimes you need to recharge yourself, or take a break so you can become energized again. Less commonly, recharge is used to mean "refill a glass," and the original meaning, in the fifteenth century, was "to reload a vessel."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

recharge recharges recharged recharging

So it’s understandable they would need to recharge by getting away from Washington from time to time.

From Salon ● Oct. 10, 2026

When storms bring heavy runoff, growers have been spreading water on fields to recharge groundwater.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

The Semi comes in two trims, Standard Range and Long Range, with the latter capable of driving 500 miles before needing to recharge.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 24, 2026

So that people can understand why the drivers have been upset this year, what is it about these hybrid engines, and the need to recharge the batteries, that detracts from the best drivers' abilities?

From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026

It's going to take twelve hours to recharge, after all.

From "The Martian" by Andy Weir

At lower speeds, as in city traffic, you begin to hear the engine’s whispered revving in the perceptual background as it simultaneously propels the car and recharges the 22.7-kWh battery.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 1, 2026

That includes “extended range electric vehicles,” battery-powered cars that have an onboard generator, running on gas, that recharges batteries on the fly.

From Barron's ● Dec. 15, 2025

Regenerative braking in EVs, which recharges the battery, does not involve friction.

From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2025

“You’re going to have more short-term runoff leading to more floods and less snowpack that recharges the groundwater and the groundwater is ultimately what helps maintain stream flows.”

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 28, 2023

The man who enjoys his work requires less time for recreation and exercise, for his enjoyment recharges the storage battery of energy.

From Increasing Human Efficiency in Business, a contribution to the psychology of business by Walter Dill Scott

"It recharged her and made her feel better," McVey said.

From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026

"It stores sunlight, and it can be recharged."

From Science Daily ● May 15, 2026

These signature rings are only as powerful as the will of the wearer and periodically need to be recharged.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 13, 2026

With the battery emptying itself within about 11 seconds of full power, it is emptying and being recharged constantly around a lap.

From BBC ● Feb. 26, 2026

I was back at the master’s, instantly recharged with the familiar, unrelenting tension and the need to escape, but this time I was plotting it together with the other boys.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo

In the comics, Green Lanterns are known for their oaths, which they recite when recharging their rings or to reaffirm their commitment to the group.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 5, 2026

And I think the electric side is going to be a lot less big in Monaco, just because we'll be recharging quite a bit with all the corners that there are.

From BBC ● Jun. 3, 2026

Other agencies are recharging aquifers at dozens of sites across California and are building more facilities to replenish groundwater.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 21, 2026

The 400V battery system has a maximum recharging rate of 190 kW, restoring around 80% of capacity in 45 minutes or less.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 1, 2026

In the dim glow of the security lights of the outer room, she walked around pressing her ear against one drawer after another, listening for the hum of the android whatnots recharging.

From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

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Related Words

• refresh
• regenerate
• rejuvenate

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