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

Derived Forms

• reˈclaimant, noun
• reˈclaimable, adjective

Other Words From

• re·claima·ble adjective
• re·claimer noun
• nonre·claima·ble adjective
• unre·claima·ble adjective

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

Officials have said the war to reclaim upward of a third of Iraq and a quarter of Syria from ISIS could take years.

From The Daily Beast

To reclaim it, he had to move beyond established conventions about how a literary career should be conducted.

From The Daily Beast

When Gardner goes to Washington, will he reclaim his Tea Party roots and join hands with Texas Senator Ted Cruz?

From The Daily Beast

Ohio is a must-win swing state for Republicans if they are to reclaim the White House.

From The Daily Beast

In the face of these stereotypes, the Muslim Writers Collective is one attempt to reclaim the narrative of American Islam.

From 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.

From Project Gutenberg

When he came of age he set forth, with much good advice from Chiron, to reclaim his father's kingdom.

From Project Gutenberg

And so the lad only wants payment of the siller due from us, in order to reclaim his paternal estate?

From Project Gutenberg

Petticoated porters thrust metal numbers at us so that we may be able to recognise them again and reclaim our luggage safely.

From Project Gutenberg

She stretched forth a hand as if to reclaim her Bumper, but the lady moved away with her purchase under her arm.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• recover
• refurbish
• repair
• salvage
• save