recoverable
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of recoverable
late Middle English word dating back to 1425–75; see origin at recover, -able
Explanation
If something is recoverable, you can get it back. If you drop your eyeglasses over the side of the boat, but the water is crystal clear and somebody is willing to dive for them, they may be recoverable. Economists use the term “recoverable resources” to refer to oil, gas, and coal that can be extracted from the earth economically. If you've just insulated the walls of your house and replaced the old, drafty windows with new energy-efficient ones, some of your costs may be recoverable through savings on your heating bills and tax refunds for energy efficiency. If you delete something by mistake on your computer, you'll be very relieved if you find it's recoverable.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The BlueNord assets contribute around 45,000 barrels of oil-equivalent a day of net production and around 195 million barrels of proved and probable reserves plus potentially recoverable resources, extending production beyond 2040.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
These materials are often considered waste, but they may still contain valuable elements that were not economically recoverable at the time.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 16, 2026
She said: "Based on the fireball trajectory, the event occurred over the North Sea so, sadly, we do not expect any recoverable meteorites."
From BBC ● Apr. 13, 2026
The term “proved reserves” represents oil deemed recoverable under certain technical and economic assumptions, but not necessarily oil that can be produced quickly or cheaply.
From Barron's ● Jan. 6, 2026
Problem may be recoverable with remote update of Pathfinder.
From "The Martian" by Andy Weir
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
