reclaim

verb re·claim \ ri-ˈklām \

Definition of reclaim

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

play \-ˈklā-mə-bəl\ adjective

See reclaim defined for English-language learners

See reclaim defined for kids

Examples of reclaim in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of reclaim from the Web

The amendment also allows a president to transfer power to the vice president if he is temporarily incapacitated, during surgery, for instance, then reclaim those powers afterward.

— mark z. barabak, The Seattle Times, "Questions on Trump’s mental fitness put focus on 25th Amendment," 26 Aug. 2017
The Reds reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the inning when Eugenio Suarez clubbed a three-run homer, his 22nd homer of the year.

— zach buchanan, Cincinnati.com, "Cincinnati Reds recap: Homer Bailey injured, bullpen implodes," 22 Aug. 2017
After Taylor Yard shut down in the 1980s, city officials and river activists began a fight to reclaim the property from Union Pacific (which bought Southern Pacific), to the tune of $59.3 million.

— zoie matthew, Los Angeles Magazine, "This Is Why The Revitalization of the LA River Is Taking So Long," 16 Aug. 2017
Promoters of white nationalism have recently made an effort to reclaim the haircut, in part due to its historical connection to Hitler's Germany.

— scott christian, Esquire, "This Wildly Popular Haircut Has a Serious Neo-Nazi Problem," 15 Aug. 2017
Benchmark’s lawsuit appears to be an attempt to block Kalanick’s not-particularly-transparent attempts to reclaim his throne at Uber—backroom maneuvering that is almost certainly undermining the company’s efforts to recruit a new C.E.O.

— vanityfair.com, "Uber’s Boardroom Drama Just Got a Whole Lot Weirder," 11 Aug. 2017
Rhaegar kidnapped Lyanna and hid her away before returning to King's Landing to try to reclaim his throne from Robert.

— kayleigh roberts, Marie Claire, "Who Are Jon Snow's Parents on 'Game of Thrones'?," 11 Aug. 2017
Geasland and his family are in New York to reclaim the medal that was lost and then found in a mysterious sequence of events spanning three decades.

— jeanette steele, sandiegouniontribune.com, "On National Purple Heart Day, a son is reunited with his father's history," 7 Aug. 2017
Microsoft founder Bill Gates reclaimed the lead by afternoon, as Amazon’s stock fell nearly 1 percent for the day to $1,046.

— Washington Post, "Forbes: Amazon CEO Bezos was briefly the world’s richest man," 27 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'reclaim.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of reclaim

Middle English reclamen, from Anglo-French reclamer, from Latin reclamare to cry out, protest, from re- + clamare to cry out — more at claim

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

reclaim Synonyms

Synonyms

get back, reacquire, recapture, recover, re-collect, recoup, regain, repossess, retake, retrieve

Related Words

recruit, replenish; redeem, repurchase; rescue

Near Antonyms

lose, mislay, misplace

Synonym Discussion of reclaim

rescue, deliver, redeem, ransom, reclaim, save mean to set free from confinement or danger. rescue implies freeing from imminent danger by prompt or vigorous action.

- rescued the crew of a sinking ship

deliver implies release usually of a person from confinement, temptation, slavery, or suffering.

- delivered his people from bondage

redeem implies releasing from bondage or penalties by giving what is demanded or necessary.

- job training designed to redeem school dropouts from chronic unemployment

ransom specifically applies to buying out of captivity.

- tried to ransom the kidnap victim

reclaim suggests a bringing back to a former state or condition of someone or something abandoned or debased.

- reclaimed long-abandoned farms

save may replace any of the foregoing terms; it may further imply a preserving or maintaining for usefulness or continued existence.

- an operation that saved my life

RECLAIM Defined for English Language Learners

reclaim

verb

Definition of reclaim for English Language Learners

: to get back (something that was lost or taken away)
: to make (land) available for use by changing its condition
: to get (a usable material) from materials that have been used before

RECLAIM Defined for Kids

reclaim

verb re·claim \ ri-ˈklām \

Definition of reclaim for Students

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.

Law Dictionary

reclaim

transitive verb re·claim \ ˌrē-ˈklām \

legal Definition of reclaim

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

Learn More about reclaim

See words that rhyme with reclaim Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for reclaim Spanish Central: Translation of reclaim Nglish: Translation of reclaim for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of reclaim for Arabic speakers

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reclaim

Definition of reclaim

reclaimable

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RECLAIM Defined for English Language Learners

reclaim

Definition of reclaim for English Language Learners

RECLAIM Defined for Kids

reclaim

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reclaim

legal Definition of reclaim

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