redeem

[ ri-deem ]

/ rɪˈdim /

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See synonyms for: redeem / redeemed / redeeming on Thesaurus.com

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR redeem

1 discharge, square.

2, 3 reclaim, regain, repurchase.

7 counterbalance, compensate.

8 free, liberate, rescue, ransom.

See synonyms for redeem on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR redeem

8 imprison.

9 forsake.

See antonyms for redeem on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of redeem

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

synonym study for redeem

1-3. 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.

OTHER WORDS FROM redeem

pre·re·deem, verb (used with object)

Words nearby redeem

red dwarf, rede, redear sunfish, red earth, redecorate, redeem, redeemable, redeemed, redeemer, redeeming, redeeming feature

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use redeem in a sentence

If the company grows without raising additional equity funding, founders redeem most of the equity right, based on a pre-agreed return amount.
12 ‘flexible VCs’ who operate where equity meets revenue share|Walter Thompson|January 14, 2021|TechCrunch
It was an opportunity, eight months after the United States confirmed its first coronavirus case, to redeem the nation’s devastating failures in organizing a regimen of testing, contact tracing and equipping medical workers with protective gear.
Vaccines were a chance to redeem failures in the U.S. coronavirus response. What went wrong?|Lena H. Sun, Isaac Stanley-Becker, Frances Stead Sellers, Laurie McGinley, Amy Goldstein, Christopher Rowland, Carolyn Y. Johnson|January 11, 2021|Washington Post
Tucker redeemed himself by connecting from 51 yards with just more than four minutes left.
Lamar Jackson gets his first playoff victory as Ravens hold Titans’ Derrick Henry to 40 yards|Mark Maske|January 10, 2021|Washington Post
Even when customers use them, there’s often either a small balance left on gift cards that’s never redeemed, or they spend additional cash beyond the card balance to get the product they want.
Americans are on track to buy more gift cards this holiday season than ever before|Rachel King|December 24, 2020|Fortune

Tap Network aims to solve this problem by allowing customers to spend those points through a broader network of rewards, which can usually be redeemed at a lower point level.
Tap Network raises $4M for its customizable rewards program|Anthony Ha|December 18, 2020|TechCrunch
Sports drinks and coconut water, which is lower in sugar, can also redeem electrolytes lost while drinking, says White.
5 Hangover Cures to Save You After a Few Too Many|DailyBurn|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
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
He had to do something, for although all his land had been foreclosed on, he had two years to redeem the same.
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux
And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the mighty.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
Any person who is interested in a mortgaged estate has the right to redeem it; heirs, devisees, creditors.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman|Albert Sidney Bolles
But she seems able to take care of herself, and with that face and form, I guess she can redeem her fortunes any way she chooses.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton
The French war indemnity enabled him to redeem a considerable portion of the state debt and to remit certain taxes.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 2|Various

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 of redeem

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

OTHER WORDS FOR redeem

OPPOSITES FOR redeem

Origin of redeem

synonym study for redeem

OTHER WORDS FROM redeem

Words nearby redeem

Words related to redeem

How to use redeem in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for redeem

Derived forms of redeem

Word Origin for redeem