reclaim
verb
re·claim ri-ˈklām 
reclaimed; reclaiming; reclaims
transitive verb
1
a
: to recall from wrong or improper conduct : reform
b
: tame, subdue
2
a
: to rescue from an undesirable state
also : to restore to a previous natural state
reclaim mining sites
b
: to make available for human use by changing natural conditions
reclaim swampland
3
: to obtain from a waste product or by-product : recover
reclaimed plastic
4
a
: to demand or obtain the return of
b
: to regain possession of
reclaimable
ri-ˈklā-mə-bəl
adjective 
Synonyms
- get back
- re-collect
- reacquire
- recapture
- recoup
- recover
- regain
- repossess
- retake
- retrieve
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Sons and daughters are proudly reclaiming the traditions that their parents had forgotten. She reclaimed the title of world champion this year. You might be able to reclaim some of the money you contributed. Environmental groups have been reclaiming contaminated sites. Acres of land were reclaimed by conservationists. The factory reclaims fibers from textile wastes. See More
Recent Examples on the Web Houck’s season-ending back injury has given Matt Barnes a chance to reclaim the job. 
Peter Abraham, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Sep. 2022 For him, this is a way to reclaim these populations’ narrative about their connection with nature, which has lost strength over time. Alixel Cabrera, The Salt Lake Tribune, 29 Aug. 2022 Yanukovych was at the center of a group that assembled in Belarus in early March, possibly positioned to swoop in and reclaim power. Catherine Belton, Washington Post, 19 Aug. 2022 In an effort to reclaim the histories of Hawaii and educate residents and visitors about the impacts of colonization, militarization and tourism, Kajihiro created the Hawai’i DeTour Project. Scottie Andrew, CNN, 18 Aug. 2022 As the disability community begins to reclaim its sense of identity and progress within the framework of a larger society by amplifying the importance of joy in becoming a central theme that is ever more prevalent. Jonathan Kaufman, Forbes, 15 July 2022 The movie from Russia is a black comedy about an ex-convict trying to reclaim her daughter by force. John Jurgensen, WSJ, 16 Mar. 2022 Ukrainian officials have denied an intention to reclaim the rebel regions by force. Vladimir Isachenkov, Anchorage Daily News, 2 Dec. 2021 The university erected a fence around the park, and protesters tried to reclaim it, resulting in police fatally shooting one man and wounding dozens of others. Rania Soetirto, NBC News, 4 Aug. 2022 See More
Peter Abraham, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Sep. 2022 For him, this is a way to reclaim these populations’ narrative about their connection with nature, which has lost strength over time. Alixel Cabrera, The Salt Lake Tribune, 29 Aug. 2022 Yanukovych was at the center of a group that assembled in Belarus in early March, possibly positioned to swoop in and reclaim power. Catherine Belton, Washington Post, 19 Aug. 2022 In an effort to reclaim the histories of Hawaii and educate residents and visitors about the impacts of colonization, militarization and tourism, Kajihiro created the Hawai’i DeTour Project. Scottie Andrew, CNN, 18 Aug. 2022 As the disability community begins to reclaim its sense of identity and progress within the framework of a larger society by amplifying the importance of joy in becoming a central theme that is ever more prevalent. Jonathan Kaufman, Forbes, 15 July 2022 The movie from Russia is a black comedy about an ex-convict trying to reclaim her daughter by force. John Jurgensen, WSJ, 16 Mar. 2022 Ukrainian officials have denied an intention to reclaim the rebel regions by force. Vladimir Isachenkov, Anchorage Daily News, 2 Dec. 2021 The university erected a fence around the park, and protesters tried to reclaim it, resulting in police fatally shooting one man and wounding dozens of others. Rania Soetirto, NBC News, 4 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English reclamen, from Anglo-French reclamer, from Latin reclamare to cry out, protest, from re- + clamare to cry out — more at claim
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Kids Definition
reclaim
verb
re·claim ri-ˈklām
reclaimed; reclaiming
1
: to get back (something that was lost or taken away)
The skater reclaimed her championship.
2
: to restore to an original state
reclaim a swamp
3
: to obtain from a waste product or by-product
The bottles are made from reclaimed plastic.
Legal Definition
reclaim
transitive verb
re·claim ˌrē-ˈklām
1
: to make fit or available for human use
reclaiming land that had been strip-mined
2
a
: to demand the return of by right
b
: to regain possession of
reclaiming
verb
1
as in recapturing
to get again in one's possession she reclaimed the championship title after losing it last year Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- recapturing
- regaining
- retrieving
- recovering
- retaking
- repossessing
- reacquiring
- recouping
- replenishing
- getting back
- re-collecting
- rescuing
- recruiting
- redeeming
- repurchasing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- losing
- misplacing
- mislaying
2
as in rehabilitating
to make better in behavior or character a program to reclaim juvenile offenders by requiring them to do community service Synonyms & Similar Words
- rehabilitating
- redeeming
- regenerating
- improving
- restoring
- reforming
- refining
- habilitating
- reeducating
- amending
- purifying
- cleansing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- subverting
- degrading
- lowering
- corrupting
- prostituting
- warping
- demoralizing
- profaning
- debauching
- poisoning
- demeaning
- perverting
- abasing
- depraving
- cankering
3
as in recycling
to obtain (a raw material) by separating it from a by-product or waste product after reclaiming the glycerin from used vegetable oil, you can use the oil to create a fuel that burns cleaner than regular gasoline Synonyms & Similar Words
- recycling
- recovering
- reusing
- processing
- reprocessing