reclaim

[ri-kleym]

verb (used with object)

1. to bring (uncultivated areas or wasteland) into a condition for cultivation or other use.

2. to recover (substances) in a pure or usable form from refuse, discarded articles, etc.

   Synonyms: restore, regain

3. to bring back to a preferable manner of living, sound principles, ideas, etc.

4. to tame.

5. re-claim.

verb (used without object)

1. to protest; object.

noun

1. reclamation.

   beyond reclaim.

reclaim

/ rɪˈkleɪm /

verb

1. to claim back

   to reclaim baggage

2. to convert (desert, marsh, waste ground, etc) into land suitable for growing crops

3. to recover (useful substances) from waste products

4. to convert (someone) from sin, folly, vice, etc

5. falconry to render (a hawk or falcon) tame

noun

1. the act of reclaiming or state of being reclaimed

Other Word Forms

• reclaimable adjective
• reclaimer noun
• nonreclaimable adjective
• unreclaimable adjective
• reclaimant noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of reclaim¹

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 ; re-, claim

Word History and Origins

Origin of reclaim¹

C13: from Old French réclamer , from Latin reclāmāre to cry out, protest, from _re- + clāmāre to shout

Synonym Study

See recover.

Example Sentences

“This is the same reclaiming of the rights that are taken away,” he adds.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

On a recent weekday, five trucks were lined up outside the city’s Oso Wastewater Treatment Plant to pick up free reclaimed water that can be used to water yards.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He is set to make the remarks at his party's annual conference, his second in charge after reclaiming the leadership last year.

Read more on BBC

The U.S. dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of six global currencies, was marked 0.3% higher on the session at 99.22, reclaiming levels last seen in late July.

Read more on Barron's

In a relatively evenly matched competition, those decisions are the very ones that could decide whether the Americans will reclaim the trophy at Bethpage—or watch Team Europe celebrate another victory on their home soil.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• convert 
• recover 
• rescue 
• restore 
• salvage