Synonyms

reclaim

American

[ri-kleym] / rɪˈkleɪm /

verb (used with object)

to bring (uncultivated areas or wasteland) into a condition for cultivation or other use.
to recover (substances) in a pure or usable form from refuse, discarded articles, etc.

Synonyms:

restore, regain
to bring back to a preferable manner of living, sound principles, ideas, etc.
to tame.
re-claim.

verb (used without object)

to protest; object.

noun

reclamation.

beyond reclaim.

reclaim British

/ rɪˈkleɪm /

verb

to claim back

to reclaim baggage
to convert (desert, marsh, waste ground, etc) into land suitable for growing crops
to recover (useful substances) from waste products
to convert (someone) from sin, folly, vice, etc
falconry to render (a hawk or falcon) tame

"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

noun

the act of reclaiming or state of being reclaimed

"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

Related Words

See recover.

Other Word Forms

nonreclaimable adjective
reclaimable adjective
reclaimant noun
reclaimer noun
unreclaimable adjective

Etymology

Origin of reclaim

First recorded in 1250–1300; (verb) Middle English recla(i)men, from Old French reclamer (tonic stem reclaim- ), from Latin reclāmāre “to cry out against,” equivalent to re- + clāmāre “to claim”; (noun) Middle English reclaim(e), from Old French reclaim, reclam, derivative of reclamer ; re-, claim

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.

The goal of the “analog lifestyle” trend is to wean people off constant digital connectivity by doing tangible activities that help a person reclaim their time.

From Los Angeles Times

On a shimmering course in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Shiffrin blew away the competition in her best event and reclaimed her status as an Olympic champion.

From The Wall Street Journal

"In some respects he was ahead of his time and he is starting slowly to be recognised and reclaimed to some extent," said Gilham.

From BBC

His Solicitor General John Sauer told Justices that Congress could reclaim these powers anytime it wants by voting to end the tariffs.

From The Wall Street Journal

Forensic software can help recover the files, Farid said, with a caveat: “The longer you wait, the less likely you are to find it, because the computer will eventually reclaim that memory.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023