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

Harris transported two inmates around New Orleans, police say, and Baptiste helped feed Corey Boyd before his recapture. —Chelsea Brasted, Axios, 21 May 2025

Two months ago, the Sudanese Armed Forces took back the Presidential Palace, but conditions in the capital remain extremely dangerous, and the government’s recapture of Khartoum has led to an escalation of fighting throughout the country, as the R.S.F. struggles to rebound. —Nicolas Niarchos, New Yorker, 19 May 2025

Verb

Eight have since been recaptured while police continue to search for Antoine T. Massey and Derrick Groves. —James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025

The other eight prisoners who escaped from their cell and hopped the barbed wire fence to freedom have all been recaptured. —Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 29 May 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