recover

[ ri-kuhv-er ]

verb (used with object)

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.

verb (used without object)

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

   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

/ 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

Derived Forms

• reˌcoveraˈbility, noun
• reˈcoverer, noun
• reˈcoverable, adjective

Other Words From

• re·cover·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of recover¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of recover¹

C14: from Old French recoverer , from Latin recuperāre recuperate

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

Her parents moved Lucy and the baby into their home, she was prescribed antidepressants and at around the time her daughter turned one she began to recover.

From BBC

"It brings our aspiration of a new home in the region closer and hopefully demonstrates our determination to recover Wasps sustainably."

From BBC

But even with the worst of the fire under control, officials are now bracing for what will undoubtedly be a long, difficult road for the community to rebuild and recover.

From Los Angeles Times

“We suffered loss, but again, we had no fatalities. We suffered loss, but we’ll be able to rebuild. We can rebuild, we can recover and we can heal.”

From Los Angeles Times

It shouldn’t be done more than that, so the body has time to recover, says Melinda Hughes, co-owner of the Strength Shoppe.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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