redeem

[ ri-deem ]

/ rɪˈdim /

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verb (used with object)

to buy or pay off; clear by payment: to redeem a mortgage.

to buy back, as after a tax sale or a mortgage foreclosure.

to recover (something pledged or mortgaged) by payment or other satisfaction: to redeem a pawned watch.

to exchange (bonds, trading stamps, etc.) for money or goods.

to convert (paper money) into specie.

to discharge or fulfill (a pledge, promise, etc.).

to make up for; make amends for; offset (some fault, shortcoming, etc.): His bravery redeemed his youthful idleness.

to obtain the release or restoration of, as from captivity, by paying a ransom.

Theology. to deliver from sin and its consequences by means of a sacrifice offered for the sinner.

Nearby words

reddle, reddleman, rede, redear sunfish, redecorate, redeem, redeemable, redeemer, redeeming, redeeming feature, redefine

Origin of redeem

1375–1425; late Middle English redemen < Middle French redimer < Latin redimere, equivalent to red- red- + -imere, combining form of emere to purchase (cf. emptor, ransom)

SYNONYMS FOR redeem

1–3 repurchase. Redeem, ransom both mean to buy back. Redeem is wider in its application than ransom, and means to buy back, regain possession of, or exchange for money, goods, etc.: to redeem one's property. To ransom is to redeem a person from captivity by paying a stipulated price, or to redeem from sin by sacrifice: to ransom a kidnapped child.

8, 9 free, liberate, rescue, save.

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ANTONYMS FOR redeem

1 abandon.

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Related forms

pre·re·deem, verb (used with object)un·re·deemed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for redeem

Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) may have drawn wide attention and praise for their REDEEM Act.
Why Isn’t Prison Justice on the Ballot This Tuesday?|Inimai Chettiar, Abigail Finkelman|November 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In all of this lies the chance, also, for FIFA to redeem itself.
Best Way to Punish Putin? No World Cup|Tunku Varadarajan|July 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Now, thanks to a military man he fired, retired Gen. Stanley McChrystal, he has a chance to redeem himself.
It’s Time for Obama to Heed McChrystal’s Call for the ‘Service Year’|Jonathan Alter|June 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And that means it has to potential to redeem Christie—or make his already-hellish 2014 much, much worse.
This Civil War Reenactor Controls Christie’s Fate|Olivia Nuzzi|March 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Some of them, such as the pool shark Eddie Felson, find ways to redeem themselves.
‘The Man Who Fell to Earth’ Is a Classic Twice over—as a Movie and a Novel|Malcolm Jones|February 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That goes a long way to redeem even three thousand pounds of all their cumulative vulgarity.
Trilby|George Du Maurier
He looked round despairingly, as if for some way to redeem his existence from that unconquerable feeling.
Under Western Eyes|Joseph Conrad
Napoleon stood by Piedmont, and in May, 1859, the campaign that was to redeem the inglorious field of Novara commenced.
Builders of United Italy|Rupert Sargent Holland
There are many ways in which England can redeem the wrong she has done to China.
The American Missionary -- Volume 54, No. 4, October, 1900|Various
The United States Treasury is also required by law to redeem on demand all notes of national banks presented to it.
Readings in Money and Banking|Chester Arthur Phillips

British Dictionary definitions for redeem

redeem

/ (rɪˈdiːm) /

verb (tr)

to recover possession or ownership of by payment of a price or service; regain

to convert (bonds, shares, etc) into cash

to pay off (a promissory note, loan, etc)

to recover (something pledged, mortgaged, or pawned)

to convert (paper money) into bullion or specie

to fulfil (a promise, pledge, etc)

to exchange (trading stamps, coupons, etc) for goods

to reinstate in someone's estimation or good opinion; restore to favourhe redeemed himself by his altruistic action

to make amends for

to recover from captivity, esp by a money payment

Christianity (of Christ as Saviour) to free (mankind) from sin by his death on the Cross

Derived Forms

redeemer, noun

Word Origin for redeem

C15: from Old French redimer, from Latin redimere to buy back, from red- re- + emere to buy

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

redeem

verb (used with object)

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Nearby words

Origin of redeem

SYNONYMS FOR redeem

ANTONYMS FOR redeem

Related forms

Examples from the Web for redeem

British Dictionary definitions for redeem

redeem

verb (tr)

Derived Forms

Word Origin for redeem