reclaim

play

verb re·claim \ri-ˈklām\

Definition of reclaim

transitive verb
1a : to recall from wrong or improper conduct : reformb : tame, subdue
2a : to rescue from an undesirable state; also : to restore to a previous natural state reclaim mining sitesb : 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
4a : to demand or obtain the return ofb : 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 bag’s history is as interesting as its travels: the U.S. government accidentally sold it in 2015, then fought the buyer, Nancy Lee Carlson, a suburban Chicago lawyer, to reclaim it.

— justin bachman, Bloomberg.com, "The Battle for the Moon Begins," 20 July 2017
But removing the dictator, who has repeatedly vowed to reclaim every inch of territory lost during the war, will be impossible without the consent of Iran and Russia.

— The Economist, "De-escalation in Syria," 19 July 2017
Iraqi forces are in what seems the final stages of an intense house-by-house battle to reclaim the last streets of the city still occupied by the militants.

— ishaan tharoor, chicagotribune.com, "Islamic State will lose Mosul and Raqqa. What happens next?," 5 July 2017
More: Maker's Mark raises profile with Chihuly art exhibit, restaurant More: LGBT history 'reclaimed' in historic Louisville properties A grand opening will be held at The Thirsty Pedaler’s new location, in the heart of Fourth Street Live!

— kirby adams, The Courier-Journal, "Let the Thirsty Pedaler be your vehicle of choice for next pub crawl," 5 July 2017
Kinderdijk, which translates to children's dike, lies in the Alblasserwaard polder (land that's been reclaimed from the sea, marshes or river floodplains) at the confluence of the Lek and Noord rivers.

— john marshall, chicagotribune.com, "Kinderdijk windmills a must-see on any trip to Holland," 30 June 2017
A lot of women, especially younger women, have reclaimed the self-portrait especially with the ease of digital photography, as a way of feeling, a way of self-acceptance.

— jenni miller, The Cut, "Photographer Elsa Dorfman Charms in New Documentary The B-Side," 30 June 2017
Though the insult was directed at his opponent, feminists reclaimed it as a term that describes a woman who refuses to conform to narrow idea of how a woman is supposed to behave.

— michael sebastian, Cosmopolitan, "30 Times Donald Trump Has Been Completely Insulting to Women," 29 June 2017
The destruction of the mosque came as Iraqi counterterrorism forces approached within 50 meters of the structure, in a final push of an eight-month campaign to reclaim the last...

— tamer el-ghobashy, WSJ, "Islamic State Militants Blow Up Historic Mosque in Mosul, Iraqi Military Says," 21 June 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

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

play

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

play

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

play

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
2a : to demand the return of by right b : to regain possession of