recovery
Americannoun
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recoveries
plural
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an act of recovering.
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the regaining of or possibility of regaining something lost or taken away.
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restoration or return to health from sickness.
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restoration or return to any former and better state or condition.
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time required for recovering.
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something that is gained in recovering.
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an improvement in the economy marking the end of a recession or decline.
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the regaining of substances in usable form, as from refuse material or waste products.
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Law. the obtaining of right to something by verdict or judgment of a court of law.
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Football. an act or instance of recovering a fumble.
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Fencing. the movement to the position of guard after a lunge.
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Rowing. a return to a former position for making the next stroke.
noun
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the act or process of recovering, esp from sickness, a shock, or a setback; recuperation
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restoration to a former or better condition
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the regaining of something lost
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the extraction of useful substances from waste
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the recovery of a space capsule after a space flight
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law
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the obtaining of a right, etc, by the judgment of a court
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(in the US) the final judgment or verdict in a case
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fencing a return to the position of guard after making an attack
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swimming rowing the action of bringing the arm, oar, etc, forward for another stroke
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golf a stroke played from the rough or a bunker to the fairway or green
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of recovery
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Anglo-French word recoverie. See recover, -y 3
Explanation
The noun recovery refers to the process of healing after an illness or injury. Your recovery from your broken leg will go quicker if you keep off the leg. Use your crutches and definitely no skiing or hopscotch! A recovery is when you save something that was lost, in danger of becoming lost, or retrieved. If something was taken from you, such as diamonds, money, or your dignity, and you get it back, you can say that you are glad for its recovery. The noun recovery also refers to a return to a natural or original state. After a devastating hurricane, an area's recovery may take many years.
Vocabulary lists containing recovery
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Economics
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"Principles of Business," Vocabulary from Chapter 2
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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.
See Examples For:
“Andy’s a great player, and speedy recovery for him,” Thomas said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 23, 2026
The road to recovery has been challenging for the life-long Derry City supporter.
From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2026
Hilton signed off on the custody arrangement in which Lavandeira will handle parental responsibilities, including enrolling the children in school, overseeing their medical care and anything else that may arise while Hilton navigates recovery.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026
While the Belgian-French chemical company’s soda ash business has limited growth prospects and seaborne soda ash shows no sign of recovery, the company could potentially profit from rare earths.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
It’s about a shocking theft and a bizarre recovery.
From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day
The Brazil midfielder made the third-highest number of tackles in the Premier League last season with 107 and his ball recoveries were the fourth highest in the division - winning possession 194 times.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
California leads the nation in recoveries over that period.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 19, 2026
By examining how koalas responded to earlier population crashes and recoveries, scientists may be able to develop better conservation strategies for protecting the species today.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 17, 2026
Dubai experienced one of the fastest global recoveries from the Covid-19 pandemic in late 2021, transforming the crisis into an economic boom.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026
Up until now there have been preliminary stumblings, recoveries, a clutching for handholds.
From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood
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.
