re·cov·er
ri-ˈkə-vər 
recovered; recovering
ri-ˈkə-və-riŋ
-ˈkəv-riŋ
1
: to get back : regain
2
a
: to bring back to normal position or condition
stumbled, then recovered himself
b
archaic
: rescue
3
a
: to make up for
recover increased costs through higher prices
b
: to gain by legal process
4
archaic
: reach
5
: to find or identify again
recover a comet
6
a
: to obtain from an ore, a waste product, or a by-product
b
: to save from loss and restore to usefulness : reclaim
1
: to regain a normal position or condition (as of health)
recovering from a cold
2
: to obtain a final legal judgment in one's favor
Examples of recover in a Sentence
Verb (1)
She had a heart attack but is recovering well.
Share prices will be down until the economy recovers.
She recovered consciousness in the hospital.
I slipped, but somehow recovered my balance.
He suffered a stroke and hasn't yet recovered the use of his left arm.
The police recovered his stolen wallet.
The program helps users recover computer files that have been deleted.
Recent Examples on the Web
Charlotte Alter, Time, 18 June 2025
On Wednesday, oil futures dropped 3% in 25 minutes in the morning, before recovering throughout the rest of the day.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 18 June 2025
Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 June 2025
Stir and re-cover; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until noodles are tender, 15 to 18 minutes.
—Melissa Gray, Southern Living, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for recover
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show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
The plaintiffs include young adults recovering from mental-health problems, the parents of suicide victims, school districts dealing with phone addiction, local governments, and 29 state attorneys general.
—Charlotte Alter, Time, 18 June 2025
On Wednesday, oil futures dropped 3% in 25 minutes in the morning, before recovering throughout the rest of the day.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 18 June 2025
Verb
The mine would be open most weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and last a decade, followed by a two-year effort to re-cover the area with soil and plants.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 June 2025
Stir and re-cover; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until noodles are tender, 15 to 18 minutes.
—Melissa Gray, Southern Living, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for recover
Cite this Entry
“Recover.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recover. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
recover
1 of 2 verb
re·cov·er
ri-ˈkəv-ər
recovered; recovering
-ˈkəv-(ə-)riŋ
1
: regain sense 1
recover a lost wallet
recovered my breath
2
: to regain or bring back to normal health, self-confidence, or position
stumbled, then recovered myself
recovered from the flu
3
: to make up for
recover lost time
4
: to obtain something useful by separating it from a source (as ore or waste) : reclaim
recover gold from gravel
re-cover
2 of 2 verb
re-cov·er
(ˈ)rē-ˈkəv-ər
: to cover again
Medical Definition
recover
intransitive verb
re·cov·er
ri-ˈkəv-ər
recovered; recovering
-(ə-)riŋ
: to regain a normal position or condition (as of health)
recovering from the effects of a cold
Legal Definition
recover
transitive verb
re·cov·er
ri-ˈkə-vər
1
: to get back or get back an equivalent for
recover costs through higher prices
2
a
: to obtain or get back (as damages, satisfaction for a debt, or property) through a judgment or decree
recover damages in a tort action
b
: to obtain (a judgment) in one's favor
1
: to get something back
2
: to obtain damages or something else through a judgment
argued that the plaintiff should not be permitted to recover
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