recapture

1 of 2

noun

re·​cap·​ture (ˌ)rē-ˈkap-chər 

1

a

: the act of retaking

b

: an instance of being retaken

2

: the retaking of a prize or goods under international law

3

: a government seizure under law of earnings or profits beyond a fixed amount

recapture

2 of 2

verb

recaptured; recapturing; recaptures

transitive verb

1

a

: to capture again

b

: to experience again

by no effort of the imagination could she recapture the ecstasy

—Ellen Glasgow

2

: to take (something, such as a portion of earnings or profits above a fixed amount) by law or through negotiations under law

Synonyms

Noun

• reclamation
• recoupment
• recovery
• repossession
• retrieval

Verb

• get back
• re-collect
• reacquire
• reclaim
• recoup
• recover
• regain
• repossess
• retake
• retrieve

Examples of recapture in a Sentence

Noun

the recapture of the territory may take longer than expected

Verb

The guards recaptured the escaped prisoner.

The soldiers recaptured the hill they had lost the day before.

In the final lap of the race, he recaptured the lead.

They are trying to recapture those happy times they had together.

The documentary recaptures the social tensions of the 1960s.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Russia has hailed the recapture from Ukrainian forces of a number of Russian towns and villages. —Shane Croucher john Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025

One thing that did work on both its January and Mach launch attempts was the successful recapture of the Super Heavy booster back at the launch site. —Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 May 2025

Verb

Hartford Courant Thomas, 32, has been trying to recapture his game and, like all of the top golfers in the world, trying to approach the outrageously high bar set by Scheffler, who has been No. 1 in the world for more than 100 weeks. —Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 20 June 2025

But Williams previously said that recapturing the closer’s role didn’t matter to him. —Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 20 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1752, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1799, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for recapture

• capture
• rapture

Kids Definition

recapture

verb

re·​cap·​ture

(ˈ)rē-ˈkap-chər

1

: to capture again

recaptured the escaped prisoner

2

: to experience again

trying to recapture those happy times

Legal Definition

recapture

1 of 2 transitive verb

re·​cap·​ture

ˌrē-ˈkap-chər

recaptured; recapturing

1

: to capture again

2

: to recover or take (as an excess or gain) by law or agreement

especially : to recover (a tax benefit) by higher or additional taxation of income or property that ceases to qualify for a credit or deduction or by taxing gain realized from the sale or exchange of such property

the government recaptured the depreciation by taxing the gain resulting from the difference between the sale price and the basis after depreciation

recapture

2 of 2 noun

1

: the act or process of recapturing

2

: an amount recaptured or subject to recapture