recuperate

verb

re·​cu·​per·​ate ri-ˈkü-pə-ˌrāt 

-ˈkyü-

recuperated; recuperating

transitive verb

1

: to get back : regain

2

: to bring back into use or currency : revive

recuperate old traditions

intransitive verb

: to regain a former state or condition

especially : to recover health or strength

recuperation

ri-ˌkü-pə-ˈrā-shən 

-ˌkyü-

noun

Synonyms

• come back
• convalesce
• gain
• heal
• mend
• pull round [chiefly British]
• rally
• recoup
• recover
• snap back

Examples of recuperate in a Sentence

She took a day off to recuperate.

half the office was out today, many employees being sick or recuperating from the flu

Recent Examples on the Web

The Duchess received treatment for her melanoma in London, and took time to recuperate at the MAYRLIFE clinic, a medical health resort in Altaussee, Austria. —Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 22 Mar. 2024

When a grainy photo of Catherine riding in a car with her mother appeared on the American gossip site, TMZ, last week, British papers did not publish it out of deference to Kensington Palace’s appeal that she be allowed to recuperate in peace. —Mark Landler, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2024

With that lack of clarity, people have linked his absence with that of his wife, Kate, who is still at home recuperating from surgery. —Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN, 1 Mar. 2024

So McCaffrey will have three weeks to recuperate before San Francisco’s first playoff game on either Jan. 20 or Jan. 21. —Safid Deen, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024

Road safety requires an initial investment, but it quickly gets recuperated. —Tanya Mohn, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024

She is now said to be recuperating at home in Windsor and will not return to royal duties until April. —K.j. Yossman, Variety, 16 Feb. 2024

How Meyerowitz continues his creative life while she’s confined to recuperating, only trying to survive, becomes another point of friction. —Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 16 Mar. 2024

One recuperating bird escaped the hands of a caretaker and alighted on top of a shelf. —Jess McHugh, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin recuperatus, past participle of recuperare — more at recover

First Known Use

1542, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

recuperate

verb

re·​cu·​per·​ate ri-ˈk(y)ü-pə-ˌrāt 

recuperated; recuperating

: recover sense 2

especially : to regain health or strength

recuperation

-ˌk(y)ü-pə-ˈrā-shən 

noun

Medical Definition

recuperate

verb

re·​cu·​per·​ate ri-ˈk(y)ü-pə-ˌrāt 

recuperated; recuperating

transitive verb

: to get back or recover

recuperating health and strength after pneumonia

intransitive verb

: to recover health or strength

time to recuperate after major surgery