redeem

[ ri-deem ]
See synonyms for: redeemredeemedredeeming on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
  1. to buy or pay off; clear by payment: to redeem a mortgage.

  2. to buy back, as after a tax sale or a mortgage foreclosure.

  1. to recover (something pledged or mortgaged) by payment or other satisfaction: to redeem a pawned watch.

  2. to exchange (bonds, trading stamps, etc.) for money or goods.

  3. to convert (paper money) into specie.

  4. to discharge or fulfill (a pledge, promise, etc.).

  5. to make up for; make amends for; offset (some fault, shortcoming, etc.): His bravery redeemed his youthful idleness.

  6. to obtain the release or restoration of, as from captivity, by paying a ransom.

  7. Theology. to deliver from sin and its consequences by means of a sacrifice offered for the sinner.

Origin of redeem

1
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English redemen, from Middle French redimer, from Latin redimere, equivalent to red- red- + -imere, combining form of emere “to purchase” (cf. emptor, ransom)

synonym study For redeem

1-3. Redeem, ransom both mean to buy back. Redeem is wider in its application than ransom, and means to buy back, regain possession of, or exchange for money, goods, etc.: to redeem one's property. To ransom is to redeem a person from captivity by paying a stipulated price, or to redeem from sin by sacrifice: to ransom a kidnapped child.

Other words for redeem

Opposites for redeem

Other words from redeem

  • pre·re·deem, verb (used with object)

Words Nearby redeem

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

How to use redeem in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for redeem

redeem

/ (rɪˈdiːm) /


verb(tr)
  1. to recover possession or ownership of by payment of a price or service; regain

  2. to convert (bonds, shares, etc) into cash

  1. to pay off (a promissory note, loan, etc)

  2. to recover (something pledged, mortgaged, or pawned)

  3. to convert (paper money) into bullion or specie

  4. to fulfil (a promise, pledge, etc)

  5. to exchange (trading stamps, coupons, etc) for goods

  6. to reinstate in someone's estimation or good opinion; restore to favour: he redeemed himself by his altruistic action

  7. to make amends for

  8. to recover from captivity, esp by a money payment

  9. Christianity (of Christ as Saviour) to free (mankind) from sin by his death on the Cross

Origin of redeem

1
C15: from Old French redimer, from Latin redimere to buy back, from red- re- + emere to buy

Derived forms of redeem

  • redeemer, noun

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