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

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

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

Loaded with young talent and brimming with creativity, the group led by teenage sensation Lamine Yamal has reclaimed its place as one of the hottest tickets in sports.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Driven by a desire to escape screens and reclaim a sense of control, they are resurrecting digital cameras, flip phones and CDs.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Your old smartphones and laptops—collecting dust in a drawer—contain a valuable metal that many companies are desperate to reclaim.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• convert 
• recover 
• rescue 
• restore 
• salvage