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

But authorities in Mexico City also dig mass graves, to house the hundreds of bodies discovered each year that are never reclaimed or identified.

Read more on Barron's

In 2020, after what it said was an internal review, Afrinic sent letters to Lu and others seeking to reclaim the IP addresses they held.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Crucially, the deal provided that if Sable didn’t restart production by a certain date, Exxon could reclaim the platforms.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Deciding whether reclaiming some online privacy is important, frivolous or futile is up to you.

Read more on Salon

We also want Sudan to reclaim its role as a positive regional force.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• convert 
• recover 
• rescue 
• restore 
• salvage