recover
Americanverb (used with object)
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recovers,
present (3rd person singular)
-
recovered,
past participle, past
-
recovering
present participle
-
to get back or regain (something lost or taken away).
to recover a stolen watch.
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to make up for or make good (loss, damage, etc., to oneself ).
-
to regain the strength, composure, balance, or the like, of (oneself ).
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Law.
-
to obtain by judgment in a court of law, or by legal proceedings.
to recover damages for a wrong.
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to acquire title to through judicial process.
to recover land.
-
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to reclaim from a bad state, practice, etc.
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to regain (a substance) in usable form, as from refuse material or from a waste product or by-product of manufacture; reclaim.
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Military. to return (a weapon) to a previously held position in the manual of arms.
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Football. to gain or regain possession of (a fumble).
They recovered the ball on their own 20-yard line.
verb (used without object)
-
recovers,
present (3rd person singular)
-
recovered,
past participle, past
-
recovering
present participle
-
to regain health after being sick, wounded, or the like (often followed byfrom ).
to recover from an illness.
- Synonyms:
- rally, recuperate, mend, heal
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to regain a former and better state or condition.
The city soon recovered from the effects of the earthquake.
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to regain one's strength, composure, balance, etc.
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Law. to obtain a favorable judgment in a suit for something.
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Football. to gain or regain possession of a fumble.
The Giants recovered in the end zone for a touchdown.
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to make a recovery in fencing or rowing.
verb
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(tr) to find again or obtain the return of (something lost)
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to regain (loss of money, position, time, etc); recoup
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(of a person) to regain (health, spirits, composure, etc), as after illness, a setback, or a shock, etc
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to regain (a former and usually better condition)
industry recovered after the war
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law
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(tr) to gain (something) by the judgment of a court of law
to recover damages
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(intr) to succeed in a lawsuit
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(tr) to obtain (useful substances) from waste
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(intr) (in fencing, swimming, rowing, etc) to make a recovery
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
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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recoversimple
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recoverssimple
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have recoveredperfect
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has recoveredperfect
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am recoveringprogressive
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are recoveringprogressive
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is recoveringprogressive
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have been recoveringperfect progressive
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has been recoveringperfect progressive
Past
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recoveredsimple
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had recoveredperfect
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was recoveringprogressive
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were recoveringprogressive
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had been recoveringperfect progressive
Future
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.
Vocabulary lists containing recover
Stamp Act (1765)
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Essential English Vocabulary, List 5
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Word Generation Weekly - Series 1
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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:
The Brewers put their faith in Yelich to be the cornerstone of their franchise, understanding that if they were wrong, they wouldn’t be able to recover.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026
Television footage showed heavy machinery digging through the rubble as rescue teams gathered at the site in an effort to recover people trapped beneath the debris.
From Barron's ● Oct. 29, 2026
Along with Erling Haaland, Ruben Dias, Elliot Anderson and Josko Gvardiol, Italian Donnarumma has been given three days off to "recover the energy" and Maresca will be hoping he returns to training this week rejuvenated.
From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2026
The sauna increases blood flow and circulation, helping sore joints recover faster.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2026
Caroline is the first to recover her voice.
From "Linked" by Gordon Korman
Pope Leo XIV had a "good night" in hospital and has eaten breakfast as he recovers from lung cancer surgery, the Vatican said Thursday.
From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026
An investment in a firm that recovers “salmon gold” from abandoned mines in western Canada and Alaska promises to add traceable metal meanwhile.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 4, 2026
"If she recovers - she may not fully recover - and there may be issues about her competence. I mean, we just don't know any of this," Ferrell said.
From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026
Gutierrez said that the cost of the surgeries for Jackson, his physical therapy and a wheelchair as he recovers will reach into the tens of thousands.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026
Who ever recovers from a thing like that?
From "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie
The Croatian CEO of Bugatti vowed on Thursday to stop leaving keys inside cars after his multi-million-dollar Chiron was stolen and recovered in Austria with him chasing the thief in a Porsche.
From Barron's ● Oct. 29, 2026
"The cost currently covered by the standing charge would instead be recovered through the unit price of energy," explained an Island Energy spokesperson.
From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026
The findings extend the known glacial record from the region by more than 100,000 years, making these the oldest ice cores ever recovered from this part of Tibet.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 29, 2026
The task force, the department said, recovered more than $333,000 worth of stolen retail merchandise during the search.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 29, 2026
And his black bag was ripped open and empty, the contents probably recovered by their owners.
From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan
Garrett is “making good progress” and his situation is a “week-to-week basis, McVay said. … Receiver Davante Adams is recovering from a procedure to address his injured hamstring and is “doing really well,” McVay said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026
Given our history, I am concerned that the money intended for our daughters may never reach them and that, if he leaves the country, recovering it could become even more difficult.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 27, 2026
But it warns that while some wildlife is recovering, many species and habitats are still in long-term decline.
From BBC ● Oct. 25, 2026
Sharp increases in fuel, gas and electricity prices, rationing and inflation at its highest in three years have dealt a painful blow to an economy only just recovering from its worst-ever crisis in 2022.
From Barron's ● Oct. 25, 2026
Booth needed rest and would happily have spent a month with the Garretts recovering from his injury and regaining his strength.
From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
