recover

American  

[ri-kuhv-er] / rɪˈkʌv ər /

verb (used with object)

• recovers,
  present (3rd person singular)
• recovered,
  past participle,  past
• recovering
  present participle

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.

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verb (used without object)

• recovers,
  present (3rd person singular)
• recovered,
  past participle,  past
• recovering
  present participle

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

   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 British  

/ 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

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Synonym Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• recoverability
  noun
• recoverer
  noun
• recoverable
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• recovering
  present
• recovered
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• recover
  simple
• recovers
  simple
• have recovered
  perfect
• has recovered
  perfect
• am recovering
  progressive
• are recovering
  progressive
• is recovering
  progressive
• have been recovering
  perfect progressive
• has been recovering
  perfect progressive

Past

• recovered
  simple
• had recovered
  perfect
• was recovering
  progressive
• were recovering
  progressive
• had been recovering
  perfect progressive

Future

• will recover
  simple
• will have recovered
  perfect
• will be recovering
  progressive
• will have been recovering
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of recover

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

Explanation

To recover something is to get it back. After you lose your watch, you might recover it from the wastebasket. The re- in recover is a clue that this word has "again" as part of its meaning. We can only recover things that we had before. Often, this word applies to health. Someone who is sick needs to recover — when they're totally recovered, they're all better. If the stock market crashes, it needs to recover — this happens when the market is healthier and money is flowing again. It's good to recover, but it means something bad happened in the first place.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

recover recovers recovered recovering

“Speed allows you to recover and get back.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026

“Higher supply over the next few weeks and cooler weather may mark a seasonal low for Nymex gas futures before they recover in the autumn.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026

“That explains why stocks usually quickly recover any losses they might’ve experienced on the news,” Ro said.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 17, 2026

In Torres del Limonar, a Cali residential complex that collapsed in Monday's earthquake, people pick through rubble to recover victims' belongings and return them to grieving families.

From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026

At the time, it was thought to be an ideal place to recover from a mental breakdown.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield

The commission is a German non-profit organisation that searches, recovers and buries the war dead on behalf of the German government.

From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026

She plans to return to her role as Princess Jane when she recovers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026

Museums have for a long time relied on wealthy individuals bequeathing, loaning or donating artefacts to build their science and art collections, explains Dr Smithwick, who recovers and sells fossils professionally.

From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026

"I worry less about occasional use and the slight inflammation that it might cause for a temporary period. Your body probably recovers from that very quickly, with very little damage," he says.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 10, 2026

His eyes get big, but he recovers quickly, which is good: I’m sure Coach would try to stop whatever's coming if she'd seen it.

From "Odd One Out" by Nic Stone

Their remains were only recently recovered and identified, allowing them to be laid to rest.

From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026

Police recovered artworks from the artist’s famed 1947 “Jazz” series, which were taken from a Brazilian library last year.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026

Though she recovered physically, she struggled to bond with her daughter and resurrect her former self.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026

But she added that it was proving difficult to identify some of the recovered bodies - with relatives having to rely on clothes and other items to do so.

From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026

Over the next four years, the Deanes salvaged a number of the ship’s bronze cannons and recovered many other artifacts.

From "Shipwrecked!" by Martin W. Sandler

Now in his 80s, Bailey is recovering from his sixth stroke, while insomnia and restless leg syndrome keep him up at night.

From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026

It adds that while Lodge's sentencing and the settlement conclude the case, "the process of recovering from this painful incident continues".

From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026

And we’re still recovering here from Hurricane Helene, a devastating climate disaster almost two years ago.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2026

States consider whether recovering the Medicaid costs would cause the heir severe financial hardship, like leaving them destitute or forcing them to rely on public assistance.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026

No need to upset her when she’s recovering.

From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila

Related Words

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