- (transitive)
to find again or obtain the return of (something lost) to regain (loss of money, position, time, etc); recoup (of a person) to regain (health, spirits, composure, etc), as after illness, a setback, or a shock, etc to regain (a former and usually better condition): industry recovered after the war - (transitive)
to gain (something) by the judgment of a court of law: to recover damages - (intransitive)
to succeed in a lawsuit - (transitive)
to obtain (useful substances) from waste - (intransitive)
(in fencing, swimming, rowing, etc) to make a recovery
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
re-cov•er /riˈkʌvɚ/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object]
re•cov•er /rɪˈkʌvɚ/USA pronunciation v.
re•cov•er•y, n., pl. er•ies. [uncountable]The chances of recovery are slim.[countable]made a remarkable recovery.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- to cover again:That chair needs to be re-covered.
re•cov•er /rɪˈkʌvɚ/USA pronunciation v.
- to get back or regain (something lost or taken away):[~ + object]I recovered my voice after a week of laryngitis. The insurance company helped us recover our losses.
- to regain one's strength, composure, balance, or the like: [no object]recovering from a bad cold.[~ + oneself]He recovered himself after a memory lapse.
- to regain or extract (a substance) in a form that can be used;
reclaim:[~ + object]The recycling plant recovers metal and aluminum from the trash.
re•cov•er•y, n., pl. er•ies. [uncountable]The chances of recovery are slim.[countable]made a remarkable recovery.
re-cov•er
(rē kuv′ər),USA pronunciation v.t.
re•cov•er (ri kuv′ər),USA pronunciation v.t.
v.i.
re•cov′er•er, n.
- to cover again or anew.
- 1375–1425; late Middle English recoveren; see re-, cover
re•cov•er (ri kuv′ər),USA pronunciation v.t.
- to get back or regain (something lost or taken away):to recover a stolen watch.
- to make up for or make good (loss, damage, etc., to oneself ).
- to regain the strength, composure, balance, or the like, of (oneself ).
- 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.
- to reclaim from a bad state, practice, etc.
- to regain (a substance) in usable form, as from refuse material or from a waste product or by-product of manufacture;
reclaim. - Militaryto return (a weapon) to a previously held position in the manual of arms.
- Sport[Football.]to gain or regain possession of (a fumble):They recovered the ball on their own 20-yard line.
v.i.
- to regain health after being sick, wounded, or the like (often fol. by from):to recover from an illness.
- to regain a former and better state or condition:The city soon recovered from the effects of the earthquake.
- to regain one's strength, composure, balance, etc.
- Lawto obtain a favorable judgment in a suit for something.
- Sport[Football.]to gain or regain possession of a fumble:The Giants recovered in the end zone for a touchdown.
- to make a recovery in fencing or rowing.
- Latin recuperāre to regain, recuperate
- Middle French recoverer
- Middle English recoveren 1300–50
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged 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, esp. something to its former, prosperous state:to retrieve one's fortune.
- 9.See corresponding entry in Unabridged heal, mend, recuperate; rally.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
to cover again to provide (a piece of furniture, book, etc) with a new cover
'to recover from' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):