recharge
Americanverb (used with object)
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to charge again with electricity.
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Informal. to refresh or restore; revitalize.
verb (used without object)
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to make a new charge, especially to attack again.
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Informal. to revive or restore energy, stamina, enthusiasm, etc.
noun
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an act or instance of recharging.
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Geology. the processes by which groundwater is absorbed into the zone of saturation.
verb
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to cause (an accumulator, capacitor, etc) to take up and store electricity again
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to revive or renew (one's energies) (esp in recharge one's batteries )
Other Word Forms
- rechargeable adjective
- recharger noun
Etymology
Origin of recharge
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English: “to reload (a vessel)”; re-, charge
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."
Vocabulary lists containing recharge
Earth Science - Middle School
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Earth Science - High School
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Earth Science - Introductory
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
She had come to the park alone to "to be around people, recharge and feel better".
From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026
Starbucks has banked on higher service standards and warmer coffeehouse vibes as part of its effort to recharge sales.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 2, 2026
It wants to add battery power to existing locomotives and pair that with so-called dynamic charging technology that would allow them to recharge while moving, said Langer.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026
“I think people are really embracing this idea that even brief changes of scenery can really recharge you, your mind and spirit.”
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026
I didn't get as much recharge as I usually would yesterday.
From "The Martian" by Andy Weir
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
