recover

[ ri-kuhv-er ]
See synonyms for: recoverre-coveredre-coveringre-covers on Thesaurus.com

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).

  1. to regain the strength, composure, balance, or the like, of (oneself).

  2. Law.

    • to obtain by judgment in a court of law, or by legal proceedings: to recover damages for a wrong.

    • to acquire title to through judicial process: to recover land.

  3. to reclaim from a bad state, practice, etc.

  4. to regain (a substance) in usable form, as from refuse material or from a waste product or by-product of manufacture; reclaim.

  5. Military. to return (a weapon) to a previously held position in the manual of arms.

  6. 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.

  2. to regain a former and better state or condition: The city soon recovered from the effects of the earthquake.

  1. to regain one's strength, composure, balance, etc.

  2. Law. to obtain a favorable judgment in a suit for something.

  3. Football. to gain or regain possession of a fumble: The Giants recovered in the end zone for a touchdown.

  4. to make a recovery in fencing or rowing.

Origin of recover

1
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English recoveren, from Middle French recoverer, from Latin recuperāre “to regain”; see origin at recuperate

synonym study For recover

1. 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 words for recover

Other words from recover

  • re·cov·er·er, noun

Words that may be confused with recover

Words Nearby recover

Other definitions for re-cover (2 of 2)

re-cover
[ ree-kuhv-er ]

verb (used with object)
  1. to cover again or anew.

Origin of re-cover

2
1375–1425; late Middle English recoveren;see re-, cover

Words that may be confused with re-cover

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use recover in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for recover (1 of 2)

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

  1. (of a person) to regain (health, spirits, composure, etc), as after illness, a setback, or a shock, etc

  2. to regain (a former and usually better condition): industry recovered after the war

  3. law

    • (tr) to gain (something) by the judgment of a court of law: to recover damages

    • (intr) to succeed in a lawsuit

  4. (tr) to obtain (useful substances) from waste

  5. (intr) (in fencing, swimming, rowing, etc) to make a recovery

Origin of recover

1
C14: from Old French recoverer, from Latin recuperāre recuperate

Derived forms of recover

  • recoverable, adjective
  • recoverability, noun
  • recoverer, noun

British Dictionary definitions for re-cover (2 of 2)

re-cover

/ (riːˈkʌvə) /


verb(tr)
  1. to cover again

  2. to provide (a piece of furniture, book, etc) with a new cover

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