reclaim

[ ri-kleym ]

See synonyms for: reclaim re-claimed re-claiming re-claims on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to bring (uncultivated areas or wasteland) into a condition for cultivation or other use.
to recover (substances) in a pure or usable form from refuse, discarded articles, etc.

to bring back to a preferable manner of living, sound principles, ideas, etc.
to tame.
re-claim.

verb (used without object)

to protest; object.

noun

reclamation: beyond reclaim.

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

synonym study For reclaim

2. See recover.

Other words for reclaim

2	regain, restore

See synonyms for reclaim on Thesaurus.com

Other words from reclaim

re·claim·a·ble, adjective
re·claim·er, noun
non·re·claim·a·ble, adjective
un·re·claim·a·ble, adjective

Words that may be confused with reclaim

re-claim, reclaim

Words Nearby reclaim

Other definitions for re-claim (2 of 2)

re-claim

[ ree-kleym ]

verb (used with object)

to claim or demand the return or restoration of, as a right, possession, etc.
to claim again.

Origin of re-claim

1400–50; late Middle English. See re-, claim

Also reclaim.

Words that may be confused with re-claim

re-claim , reclaim

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use reclaim in a sentence

Officials have said the war to reclaim upward of a third of Iraq and a quarter of Syria from ISIS could take years.
Pentagon Doesn’t Know How Many People It’s Killed in the ISIS War | Nancy A. Youssef | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
To reclaim it, he had to move beyond established conventions about how a literary career should be conducted.
A Year In The Life of The Canterbury Tales’ Storied Beginnings | Wendy Smith | December 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
When Gardner goes to Washington, will he reclaim his Tea Party roots and join hands with Texas Senator Ted Cruz?
A GOP Star Rises in Colorado, Beats Udall | Eleanor Clift | November 5, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Ohio is a must-win swing state for Republicans if they are to reclaim the White House.
John Kasich: The GOP’s Hobbled 2016 Dark Horse | W. James Antle III | November 3, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
In the face of these stereotypes, the Muslim Writers Collective is one attempt to reclaim the narrative of American Islam.
Defying Stereotypes, Young Muslim Writers Find Community Onstage | Julianne Chiaet | October 12, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST

And there rose before her clearly that the only way to reclaim him was to put a purpose into his aimless life.
The Woman Gives | Owen Johnson
When he came of age he set forth, with much good advice from Chiron, to reclaim his father's kingdom.
Greek Sculpture | Estelle M. Hurll
And so the lad only wants payment of the siller due from us, in order to reclaim his paternal estate?
The Fortunes of Nigel | Sir Walter Scott
Petticoated porters thrust metal numbers at us so that we may be able to recognise them again and reclaim our luggage safely.
Round the Wonderful World | G. E. Mitton
She stretched forth a hand as if to reclaim her Bumper, but the lady moved away with her purchase under her arm.
Bumper, The White Rabbit | George Ethelbert Walsh

British Dictionary definitions for reclaim

reclaim

/ (rɪˈkleɪm) /

verb(tr)

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

the act of reclaiming or state of being reclaimed

Origin of reclaim

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

Derived forms of reclaim

reclaimable, adjective
reclaimant or reclaimer, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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