reclaim
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
noun
verb
-
to claim back
to reclaim baggage
-
to convert (desert, marsh, waste ground, etc) into land suitable for growing crops
-
to recover (useful substances) from waste products
-
to convert (someone) from sin, folly, vice, etc
-
falconry to render (a hawk or falcon) tame
noun
Synonym Usage
See recover.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of reclaim
First recorded in 1250–1300; (verb) Middle English recla(i)men, from Old French reclamer (tonic stem reclaim- ), from Latin reclāmāre “to cry out against,” equivalent to re- + clāmāre “to claim”; (noun) Middle English reclaim(e), from Old French reclaim, reclam, derivative of reclamer ; see re-, claim
Explanation
To reclaim something is to get it back. If a divorced couple remarries, they reclaim their marriage. To claim is to declare or take ownership of something. To reclaim is to retake something lost. An injured quarterback must reclaim the starting position from his replacement. Two countries fighting over territory may lose and reclaim an area of land. A bank can reclaim a house if you don't make mortgage payments. Reclaim comes from the Old French reclamer, "to call back," which is rooted in the Latin word reclamare, "cry out against, or appeal."
Vocabulary lists containing reclaim
Power Prefix: re-
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Hims is pivoting from compounded GLP-1 drugs as Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly reclaim market share in weight-loss medications.
From Barron's • May 27, 2026
What I said in August: "I fully expect City to win a trophy and challenge for the title - but do not think they will reclaim their old crown."
From BBC • May 25, 2026
Colbert took the reins of Letterman’s comedy tradition once he received the green light from CBS to reclaim the aspects of his Comedy Central self.
From Salon • May 21, 2026
The last time Moore attended the fest was for the Oscar-winning body horror “The Substance,” where she stars as an aging actress desperate to reclaim her youth.
From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2026
Equipped with supplies from Octavian, she embarked on a campaign of her own to reclaim her husband.
From "Sterling Biographies®: Cleopatra: Egypt's Last and Greatest Queen" by Susan Blackaby
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.
