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 of recapture

Noun

• reclamation
• recovery

Verb

• regain
• retrieve
• reclaim
• recover

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

This elegant Victorian-Era resort in Elkhart Lake recaptures the days when guests wore starched collars and flowing skirts while rowing boats on Elkhart Lake. —Jess Hoffert, Midwest Living, 9 May 2026

If the property included components subject to section 1245, or if there was accelerated depreciation or special depreciation on certain improvements, some portion of the gain could be ordinary income recapture instead. —Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 9 May 2026

Verb

Per the logline, in The Hawk Lonnie Hawkins, (Ferrell) 2004’s number one golfer, struggles on the back nine of his career to recapture his magic. —Denise Petski, Deadline, 13 May 2026

But their presence was a reminder of the thousands of North Koreans who had died helping Russia recapture its own Kursk province, which Ukrainian forces occupied for eight months in 2024–25. —Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 11 May 2026

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