(of a person) to regain health, spirits, or composure
He is recovering after sustaining a knee injury.
Synonyms
get better
improve
get well
recuperate
I went away to the country to recuperate.
pick up
heal
The bruising had gone, but it was six months before it all healed.
revive
After three days in a coma, he revived.
come round
bounce back
mend
He must have an operation to mend torn knee ligaments.
The arm is broken, but you'll mend.
turn the corner
pull through
Everyone waited to see whether he would pull through or not.
convalesce
After two weeks I was allowed home, where I convalesced for three months.
be on the mend
take a turn for the better
His fortunes belatedly took a turn for the better.
get back on your feet
feel yourself again
regain your health or strength
Opposites
weaken
,
deteriorate
,
worsen
, relapse,
go downhill
,
take a turn for the worse
2 (verb)
Definition
to regain a former and better condition
The stock market index fell by 80% before it began to recover.
Synonyms
rally
He rallied enough to thank his doctor.
improve
She had improved so much the doctor cut her dosage.
pick up
Industrial production is beginning to pick up.
bounce back
He is young enough to bounce back.
make a recovery
3 (verb)
Definition
to get back or make good (expense or loss)
Rescue teams recovered a few more survivors from the rubble.
Synonyms
save
She could have saved him from this final disaster.
rescue
Helicopters rescued nearly 20 people.
retrieve
He could retrieve the situation.
salvage
They studied flight recorders salvaged from the wreckage.
reclaim
I've come to reclaim my property.
Opposites
abandon
4 (verb)
Definition
to gain (something) by the judgment of a court
Legal action is being taken to try and recover the money.
Synonyms
recoup
Insurance companies are trying to recount their losses.
restore
They partly restored a local castle.
repair
He has repaired the roof.
get back
regain
Troops have regained control of the city.
make good
retrieve
She retrieved her jacket from the seat.
reclaim
redeem
the date upon which you plan to redeem the item
recapture
Rebels recaptured the area.
win back
take back
repossess
retake
find again
Opposites
lose
,
forfeit
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bounce back
Definition
to recover one's health, good spirits, confidence, etc., easily
He is young enough to bounce back.
Synonyms
recover,
pick up,
rally,
take heart,
be heartened,
pull through,
take a turn for the better,
get back on your feet
in the sense of convalesce
Definition
to recover health after an illness or operation
After two weeks I was allowed home, where I convalesced for three months.
Synonyms
recover,
rest,
rally,
rehabilitate,
recuperate,
improve
in the sense of heal
Definition
(of a wound) to repair by natural processes, such as by scar formation
The bruising had gone, but it was six months before it all healed.
Synonyms
mend,
get better,
get well,
regenerate,
show improvement
Synonyms of 'recover'
recover
Explore 'recover' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of improve
She had improved so much the doctor cut her dosage.
Synonyms
recuperate,
recover,
rally,
mend,
make progress,
turn the corner,
gain ground,
gain strength,
convalesce,
be on the mend,
grow better,
make strides,
take on a new lease of life (informal)
in the sense of mend
Definition
to heal or recover
He must have an operation to mend torn knee ligaments.The arm is broken, but you'll mend.
Synonyms
heal,
improve,
recover,
cure,
remedy,
get better,
be all right,
be cured,
recuperate,
pull through,
convalesce
in the sense of pick up
Definition
to improve in health or condition
Industrial production is beginning to pick up.
Synonyms
improve,
recover,
rally,
get better,
bounce back,
make progress,
make a comeback (informal),
perk up,
turn the corner,
gain ground,
take a turn for the better,
be on the road to recovery
in the sense of pull through
Definition
to survive or recover, esp. after a serious illness
Everyone waited to see whether he would pull through or not.
Synonyms
survive,
improve,
recover,
rally,
come through,
get better,
be all right,
recuperate,
turn the corner,
pull round,
get well again
in the sense of recapture
Definition
to capture again
Rebels recaptured the area.
Synonyms
retake,
take back
in the sense of reclaim
Definition
to get back possession of
I've come to reclaim my property.
Synonyms
retrieve,
claim back,
get or take back,
recover,
rescue,
regain,
reinstate,
recoup
in the sense of recuperate
Definition
to recover from illness or exhaustion
I went away to the country to recuperate.
Synonyms
recover,
improve,
pick up,
get better,
mend,
turn the corner,
convalesce,
be on the mend,
get back on your feet,
regain your health
in the sense of redeem
Definition
to buy back
the date upon which you plan to redeem the item
Synonyms
buy back,
recover,
regain,
retrieve,
reclaim,
win back,
repossess,
repurchase,
recover possession of
in the sense of regain
Definition
to get back or recover
Troops have regained control of the city.
Synonyms
recover,
get back,
retrieve,
redeem,
recapture,
win back,
take back,
recoup,
repossess,
retake
in the sense of repair
Definition
to restore (something damaged or broken) to good condition or working order
He has repaired the roof.
Synonyms
mend,
fix,
recover,
restore,
heal,
renew,
patch,
make good,
renovate,
patch up,
put back together,
restore to working order
Additional synonyms
in the sense of rescue
Definition
to bring (someone or something) out of danger or trouble
Helicopters rescued nearly 20 people.
Synonyms
save,
get out,
save the life of,
extricate,
free,
release,
deliver,
recover,
liberate,
set free,
save (someone's) bacon (British, informal)
in the sense of restore
Definition
to reconstruct (a ruin, extinct animal, etc.)
They partly restored a local castle.
Synonyms
repair,
refurbish,
renovate,
reconstruct,
fix (up),
recover,
renew,
rebuild,
mend,
rehabilitate,
touch up,
recondition,
retouch,
set to rights
in the sense of retrieve
Definition
to rescue or save
He could retrieve the situation.
Synonyms
redeem,
save,
rescue,
repair,
salvage,
win back,
recoup
in the sense of retrieve
Definition
to get or fetch back again
She retrieved her jacket from the seat.
Synonyms
get back,
regain,
repossess,
fetch back,
recall,
recover,
restore,
recapture
in the sense of revive
Definition
to bring or be brought back to life, consciousness, or strength
After three days in a coma, he revived.
Synonyms
come round,
recover,
quicken,
spring up again
in the sense of salvage
Definition
to save (goods or property) from shipwreck, destruction, or waste
They studied flight recorders salvaged from the wreckage.
Synonyms
save,
recover,
rescue,
restore,
repair,
get back,
retrieve,
redeem,
glean,
repossess,
fetch back
in the sense of take a turn for the better
His fortunes belatedly took a turn for the better.
Synonyms
get better,
improve,
pick up,
recover,
rally,
revive,
look up,
perk up,
turn the corner
recover
(rɪkʌvəʳ)
Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense recovers, present participle recovering, past tense, past participle recovered
1. verb
When you recoverfrom an illness or an injury, you become well again.
He is recovering from a knee injury. [VERB + from]
A policeman was recovering in hospital last night after being stabbed. [VERB]
He is fully recovered from the virus. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: get better, improve, get well, recuperate More Synonyms of recover
2. verb
If you recoverfrom an unhappy or unpleasant experience, you stop being upset by it.
...a tragedy from which he never fully recovered. [VERB + from]
There was no time to recover from the defeat. [VERB]
3. verb
If something recoversfrom a period of weakness or difficulty, it improves or gets stronger again.
He recovered from a 4-2 deficit to reach the quarter-finals. [VERB + from]
The stockmarket index fell by 80% before it began to recover. [VERB]
Synonyms: rally, improve, pick up, bounce back More Synonyms of recover
4. verb
If you recover something that has been lost or stolen, you find it or get it back.
Police raided five houses in south-east London and recovered stolen goods. [VERB noun]
Rescue teams recovered more bodies from the rubble. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: save, rescue, retrieve, salvage More Synonyms of recover
5. verb
If you recover a mental or physical state, it comes back again. For example, if you recover consciousness, you become conscious again.
For a minute he looked uncertain, and then recovered his composure. [VERB noun]
She had a severe attack of asthma and it took an hour to recover her breath. [VERB noun]
She never recovered consciousness. [VERB noun]
6. verb
If you recover money that you have spent, invested, or lent to someone, you get the same amount back.
Legal action is being taken to try to recover the money. [VERB noun]
The home market was not large enough to recover their costs of production. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: recoup, restore, repair, get back More Synonyms of recover
recover in British English
(rɪˈkʌvə)
verb
1. (transitive)
to find again or obtain the return of (something lost)
2.
to regain (loss of money, position, time, etc); recoup
3.
(of a person) to regain (health, spirits, composure, etc), as after illness, a setback, or a shock, etc
4.
to regain (a former and usually better condition)
industry recovered after the war
5. law
a. (transitive)
to gain (something) by the judgment of a court of law
to recover damages
b. (intransitive)
to succeed in a lawsuit
6. (transitive)
to obtain (useful substances) from waste
7. (intransitive)
(in fencing, swimming, rowing, etc) to make a recovery
Derived forms
recoverable (reˈcoverable)
adjective
recoverability (reˌcoveraˈbility)
noun
recoverer (reˈcoverer)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Old French recoverer, from Latin recuperārerecuperate
recover in American English
(rɪˈkʌvər)
verb transitive
1.
a.
to get back (something lost or stolen)
b.
to regain (health, consciousness, etc.)
2.
to compensate for; make up for
to recover losses
3.
a.
to get (oneself) back to a state of control, balance, or composure
b.
to catch or save (oneself) from a slip, stumble, betrayal of feeling, etc.
4.
to reclaim (land from the sea, useful substances from waste, etc.)
5. Law
to get or get back by final judgment in a court
to recover damages
6. Sport
to gain or regain control or possession of (a fumbled, muffed, wild, or free ball, puck, etc.)
verb intransitive
7.
to regain health, balance, or control
8.
to catch or save oneself from a slip, stumble, self-betrayal, etc.
9. Law
to succeed in a claim; receive judgment in one's favor
10. Sport
to recover a ball, puck, etc.
SYNONYMY NOTE: recover implies a finding or getting back something that one has lost in any manner [to recover stolen property, one's self-possession, etc.]; regain more strongly stresses a winning back of something that has been taken from one [to regain a military objective]; retrieve suggests diligent effort in regaining something [he was determined to retrieve his honor]; recoup implies recovery of an equivalent in compensation [I tried to recoup my losses]; reclaim implies recovery or restoration to a better or useful state [to reclaim wasteland]
Derived forms
recoverable (reˈcoverable)
adjective
Word origin
ME recoveren < OFr recovrer < L recuperare: see recuperate
Examples of 'recover' in a sentence
recover
These recover after a month or two.
The Sun (2016)
The unnamed patient recovered after five days of treatment.
The Sun (2016)
Performance has recovered strongly after some difficult years.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It will be easier to recover after a victory than after a defeat.
The Sun (2016)
But he left hospital yesterday vowing to play again after recovering from a back injury.
The Sun (2016)
The second is actually recovering the money.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The card provider can then seek to recover the money from the retailer.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The Lancashire paceman arrived in India last week after recovering from a stress fracture of the right shoulder.
The Sun (2016)
A dental patient in Ohio is recovering after an appointment during which he shot himself while he was under the influence of laughing gas.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She had recovered any composure that she might have lost.
George Eliot Daniel Deronda (1876)
It was some moments before he recovered breath and consciousness.
George MacDonald The Princess and the Goblin (1872)
Only two have fully recovered and about a third have shown no improvement.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
We are also getting better at recovering the money stolen.
The Sun (2011)
This gives your muscles a chance to recover and become stronger.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
At that time there was still a chance of me recovering or finding a medication that worked.
The Sun (2013)
But at home it took us a little longer to recover our composure.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
He will go well if fully recovered.
The Sun (2010)
He has been recovering in hospital after surgery.
The Sun (2011)
This would make it difficult to recover any money from him.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
He recovered to become a good sportsman.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
There are two options for recovering money on the office.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Little of the money will be recovered.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
She is not expected to recover fully, said doctors.
The Sun (2010)
It was horrible for a long time, but she has fully recovered now.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This would cause a short, sharp inflationary shock but would allow economies to recover and become price competitive again.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
For a moment she seemed surprised to see him but then quickly recovered her composure and went to help Ham serve the meal.
Kathleen E. Woodiwiss THE WOLF AND THE DOVE
It felt like a cliché, an unimaginative script and a role in its production that she might find hard to recover from quickly.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Players in the alternative XV are injured or recovering form after injury.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
I find it difficult to talk, and sometimes it takes me ages to recover my composure.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Our hero is on his first day back at work after nine months recovering from horrific burns and he's not having a good day.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The wounded soldier, left to himself, gradually recovered full consciousness.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In other languages
recover
British English: recover /rɪˈkʌvə/ VERB
When you recover from an illness or an injury, you become well again.