reclaim

American  

[ri-kleym] / rɪˈkleɪm /

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.

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verb (used without object)

1. to protest; object.

noun

1. reclamation.

   beyond reclaim.

reclaim British  

/ 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

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noun

1. the act of reclaiming or state of being reclaimed

Related Words

See recover.

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

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

Explanation

To reclaim something is to get it back. If a divorced couple remarries, they reclaim their marriage. To claim is to declare or take ownership of something. To reclaim is to retake something lost. An injured quarterback must reclaim the starting position from his replacement. Two countries fighting over territory may lose and reclaim an area of land. A bank can reclaim a house if you don't make mortgage payments. Reclaim comes from the Old French reclamer, "to call back," which is rooted in the Latin word reclamare, "cry out against, or appeal."

Example Sentences

Meanwhile, Meg gets adopted and her mother, a brief presence at the start of the novel, is back on the scene ready to do whatever it takes to reclaim her daughter.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026

The last time Moore attended the fest was for the Oscar-winning body horror “The Substance,” where she stars as an aging actress desperate to reclaim her youth.

From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2026

I believe one can enter here and add to on a reclaim above the former break above a cup with handle trigger of $44.53 taken out on March 18.

From Barron's • May 12, 2026

Megan fought to reclaim her physical and psychological wellness in front of the world while defending her reputation in court.

From Salon • Apr. 30, 2026

So the three of us were motivated to reclaim our glory during the team competition five days later.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad

Related Words

• convert
• recover
• rescue
• restore
• salvage