recovery

[ ri-kuhv-uh-ree ]

noun

, plural re·cov·er·ies.

1. an act of recovering.
2. the regaining of or possibility of regaining something lost or taken away.
3. restoration or return to health from sickness.
4. restoration or return to any former and better state or condition.
5. time required for recovering.
6. something that is gained in recovering.
7. an improvement in the economy marking the end of a recession or decline.
8. the regaining of substances in usable form, as from refuse material or waste products.
9. Law. the obtaining of right to something by verdict or judgment of a court of law.
10. Football. an act or instance of recovering a fumble.
11. Fencing. the movement to the position of guard after a lunge.
12. Rowing. a return to a former position for making the next stroke.

recovery

/ rɪˈkʌvərɪ /

noun

1. the act or process of recovering, esp from sickness, a shock, or a setback; recuperation
2. restoration to a former or better condition
3. the regaining of something lost
4. the extraction of useful substances from waste
5. the recovery of a space capsule after a space flight
6. law
   1. the obtaining of a right, etc, by the judgment of a court
   2. (in the US) the final judgment or verdict in a case
7. fencing a return to the position of guard after making an attack
8. swimming rowing the action of bringing the arm, oar, etc, forward for another stroke
9. golf a stroke played from the rough or a bunker to the fairway or green

Word History and Origins

Origin of recovery¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Anglo-French word recoverie. See recover, -y ³

Example Sentences

As members of the crash recovery crew search for survivors among the wreckage, they encounter mysterious predatory life forms more terrifying than they could have ever imagined.

From Salon

ZLD can increase water recovery from this brine and reduce its volume, leading to more manageable desalination waste streams.

From Science Daily

My recovery is allowing me to make a gradual return to work covering politics for BBC Scotland.

From BBC

It also involves educating individuals about self-management techniques and empowering them to take an active role in their recovery.

From Salon

Perhaps unsurprisingly, then, economic confidence sagged under Obama and Biden, even as they presided over stunning recoveries.

From Salon

Related Words

• comeback
• healing
• improvement
• recuperation
• rehabilitation
• renewal
• resurgence
• revival