recover

[ ri-kuhv-er ]

verb (used with object)

1. to get back or regain (something lost or taken away):

   to recover a stolen watch.

2. to make up for or make good (loss, damage, etc., to oneself ).
3. to regain the strength, composure, balance, or the like, of (oneself ).
4. Law.
   1. to obtain by judgment in a court of law, or by legal proceedings:

      to recover damages for a wrong.

   2. to acquire title to through judicial process:

      to recover land.

5. to reclaim from a bad state, practice, etc.
6. to regain (a substance) in usable form, as from refuse material or from a waste product or by-product of manufacture; reclaim.
7. Military. to return (a weapon) to a previously held position in the manual of arms.
8. Football. to gain or regain possession of (a fumble):

   They recovered the ball on their own 20-yard line.

verb (used without object)

1. to regain health after being sick, wounded, or the like (often followed by from ):

   to recover from an illness.

   Synonyms: rally, recuperate, mend, heal

2. to regain a former and better state or condition:

   The city soon recovered from the effects of the earthquake.

3. to regain one's strength, composure, balance, etc.
4. Law. to obtain a favorable judgment in a suit for something.
5. Football. to gain or regain possession of a fumble:

   The Giants recovered in the end zone for a touchdown.

6. to make a recovery in fencing or rowing.

recover

/ rɪˈkʌvə /

verb

1. tr to find again or obtain the return of (something lost)
2. to regain (loss of money, position, time, etc); recoup
3. (of a person) to regain (health, spirits, composure, etc), as after illness, a setback, or a shock, etc
4. to regain (a former and usually better condition)

   industry recovered after the war

5. law
   1. tr to gain (something) by the judgment of a court of law

      to recover damages

   2. intr to succeed in a lawsuit
6. tr to obtain (useful substances) from waste
7. intr (in fencing, swimming, rowing, etc) to make a recovery

Derived Forms

• reˈcoverable, adjective
• reˌcoveraˈbility, noun
• reˈcoverer, noun

Other Words From

• re·cover·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of recover¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English recoveren, from Middle French recoverer, from Latin recuperāre “to regain”; recuperate

Word History and Origins

Origin of recover¹

C14: from Old French recoverer , from Latin recuperāre recuperate

Synonym Study

Recover, reclaim, retrieve are to regain literally or figuratively something or someone. To recover is to obtain again what one has lost possession of: to recover a stolen jewel. To reclaim is to bring back from error or wrongdoing, or from a rude or undeveloped state: to reclaim desert land by irrigation. To retrieve is to bring back or restore, especially something to its former, prosperous state: to retrieve one's fortune.

Example Sentences

The system would be better poised to help the region recover once the pandemic ends, he said.

From Washington Post

It was the rare offseason in which Embiid wasn’t recovering from surgery or an injury, and the group took advantage.

From FiveThirtyEight

I found I was more tired at the end of the day but made an effort to consistently get to bed earlier so that I could recover and run the next day.

From Outside Online

There is not enough money to help seriously ill children recover.

From Time

“They all recovered, but not everyone is that lucky,” text in the video reads, affixed over footage of maskless people celebrating.

From Washington Post

We need to recover and grow the idea that the proper answer to bad speech is more and better speech.

From The Daily Beast

Women are more likely to recover sooner from birth and less likely to experience post-partum depression.

From The Daily Beast

This slows the rate of all the above processes and increases the chances that someone can recover quickly enough to wake up.

From The Daily Beast

It took decades for comics to recover and emerge as an adult art form.

From The Daily Beast

She literally had to lie down in between sessions in order to recover her strength.

From The Daily Beast

We shall recover again some or all of the steadfastness and dignity of the old religious life.

From Project Gutenberg

The purchasers found that this claim was not well founded, and sought to recover their money.

From Project Gutenberg

Having paused a few seconds to recover breath, he brushed his hat with his elbow, and declared himself ready.

From Project Gutenberg

The law only gave you the right to proceed against him to recover money damages for the legal injury.

From Project Gutenberg

Again, if the agent deposited the money in his own name the true owner could proceed against the bank to recover it.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bounce back
• gain
• grow
• heal
• increase
• overcome
• pick up
• rebound
• recuperate
• restore
• revive