recover

play

verb re·cov·er \ri-ˈkə-vər\

Definition of recover

recovered

;

recovering

play \-ˈkə-və-riŋ, -ˈkəv-riŋ\

transitive verb
1 : to get back : regain
2a : to bring back to normal position or condition stumbled, then recovered himselfb archaic : rescue
3a : to make up for recover increased costs through higher pricesb : to gain by legal process
4 archaic : reach
5 : to find or identify again recover a comet
6a : to obtain from an ore, a waste product, or a by-productb : to save from loss and restore to usefulness : reclaim
intransitive verb
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

recoverability

play \-ˌkə-və-rə-ˈbi-lə-tē, -ˌkəv-rə-\ noun

recoverable

play \-ˈkə-və-rə-bəl, -ˈkəv-rə-\ adjective

recoverer

play \-ˈkə-vər-ər\ noun

See recover defined for English-language learners

See recover defined for kids

Examples of recover in a Sentence

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 of recover from the Web

As a physician who worked in internal medicine and hospice care, she was prompted to walk, in part, to recover from career burnout.

— jenny rough, Washington Post, "Feeling out of shape and fat? Here’s how to fix that: Start walking.", 3 June 2017
British Airways cabin crew are set to go on strike in mid-June, offering another round of headaches to an airline trying to recover from a disastrous recent IT meltdown.

— the associated press, The Seattle Times, "British Airways cabin crew to strike in mid-June", 2 June 2017
Operations were gradually recovering by Monday, when just 50 flights to and from its main London Heathrow hub were canceled and operations were back on schedule at Gatwick.

— richard weiss, chicagotribune.com, "British Air meltdown feeds outrage at tight-fisted airlines", 29 May 2017
A third victim, Micah David-Cole Fletcher, 21, is recovering in the hospital from a cut to the neck, which his mother told local media had missed his jugular vein by a millimeter.

— j. weston phippen, The Atlantic, "Trump: Oregon Stabbing Victims Stood Up Against 'Hate and Intolerance'", 29 May 2017
Same-store sales began to recover last quarter after declining for five straight periods, raising hope that a turnaround is underway.

— nick turner, Bloomberg.com, "Chipotle Removes Malware After Breach Strikes Payment Systems", 26 May 2017
An official German War Graves Commission site, the Langemark Cemetery contains more than 40,000 burials of soldiers recovered between 1915 and the 1930s.

— Smithsonian, "World War I Cemeteries & Memorials Around the World", 26 May 2017
His grandmother was in the hospital recovering from her injuries.

— geeta anand and suhasini raj, New York Times, "Rumors on WhatsApp Ignite 2 Mob Attacks in India, Killing 7", 25 May 2017
In 46 NFL regular-season games, Mosley has made 360 tackles, intercepted six passes, recorded seven sacks and recovered three fumbles, scoring a touchdown with one of the recoveries.

— mark inabinett, AL.com, "Shoulder surgery keeps C.J. Mosley out of Baltimore Ravens' practices", 20 May 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of recover

Middle English, from Anglo-French recoverer, from Latin recuperare, from re- + *caperare, from Latin capere to take — more at heave

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First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

RECOVER Defined for English Language Learners

recover

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verb

Definition of recover for English Language Learners

: to become healthy after an illness or injury : to return to normal health
: to return to a normal state after a period of difficulty
: to get (something, such as an ability or feeling) again

RECOVER Defined for Kids

recover

play

verb re·cov·er \ri-ˈkə-vər\

Definition of recover for Students

recovered

;

recovering

1 : to get back : regain I recovered my lost wallet. Mary began to recover her breath and feel safer … — Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden
2 : to regain or return to a normal or usual state (as of health or composure Have you recovered from the flu?
3 : to make up for We can't recover lost time.

Medical Dictionary

recover

play

intransitive verb re·cov·er \ri-ˈkəv-ər\

Medical Definition of recover

recovered

;

recovering

\-(ə-)riŋ\play

: to regain a normal position or condition (as of health) recovering from the effects of a cold

Law Dictionary

recover

play

transitive verb re·cov·er \ri-ˈkə-vər\

Legal Definition of recover

1 : to get back or get back an equivalent for recover costs through higher prices
2a : 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
intransitive verb
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