redeem

UK: /rɪˈdiːm/ US: /rɪˈdim/ ,(ri dēm′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

re•deem /rɪˈdim/   v. [~ + object]

1. to buy back, as after a tax sale or a mortgage foreclosure.
2. to recover (something pledged or mortgaged) by payment or other satisfaction:
   She returned to the pawnbroker's to redeem her watch.
3. Stock Exchange, Business to exchange (bonds, trading stamps, etc.) for money or goods.
4. to discharge or fulfill (a pledge, promise, etc.).
5. Religion to set free or deliver (someone) from captivity, etc., by paying a penalty or ransom:
   paid a ransom to redeem the hostages.
6. to make up for;
   offset (some fault, shortcoming, etc.):
   After making that blunder, how will you redeem yourself?

re•deem•a•ble, adj. 
re•deem•er, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

re•deem  (ri dēm′), v.t. 

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.
3. to recover (something pledged or mortgaged) by payment or other satisfaction:
   to redeem a pawned watch.
4. Stock Exchange, Business to exchange (bonds, trading stamps, etc.) for money or goods.
5. to convert (paper money) into specie.
6. to discharge or fulfill (a pledge, promise, etc.).
7. to make up for;
   make amends for;
   offset (some fault, shortcoming, etc.):
   His bravery redeemed his youthful idleness.
8. to obtain the release or restoration of, as from captivity, by paying a ransom.
9. Religion [Theol.] to deliver from sin and its consequences by means of a sacrifice offered for the sinner.

• Latin redimere, equivalent. to red- red- + -imere, combining form of emere to purchase (compare emptor, ransom)
• Middle French redimer
• late Middle English redemen 1375–1425

Synonyms

• 1. -3. repurchase.
  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.
• 8, 9. free, liberate, rescue, save.

Antonyms

• 1. abandon.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

redeem / rɪˈdiːm/ verb (transitive)

1. to recover possession or ownership of by payment of a price or service; regain
2. to convert (bonds, shares, etc) into cash
3. to recover (something pledged, mortgaged, or pawned)
4. to convert (paper money) into bullion or specie
5. to fulfil (a promise, pledge, etc)
6. to exchange (trading stamps, coupons, etc) for goods
7. to reinstate in someone's estimation or good opinion; restore to favour: he redeemed himself by his altruistic action
8. to make amends for
9. (of Christ as Saviour) to free (humankind) from sin by his death on the Cross

Etymology: 15th Century: from Old French redimer, from Latin redimere to buy back, from red- re- + emere to buy

reˈdeemer noun