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

Fiddelke, during Target’s earnings call in August, said the retailer needed to reclaim its relevance as an “authority” in stylish and low-priced merchandise.

Read more on MarketWatch

Since Sept. 26, the stock has quickly reclaimed its 200-day simple moving average, and Oct.

Read more on Barron's

The dates will be planted in the arid Thar Desert of northern India to help reclaim the land and create employment.

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From a technical perspective, the stock reclaimed its 200-day simple moving average to start the week.

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The fee could be reclaimed when the containers were returned to retailers or reverse vending machines.

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Related Words

• convert 
• recover 
• rescue 
• restore 
• salvage