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 of recuperate

• recover

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

After recuperating from burns to his hands and face suffered in the crash, Morris went back to meet his wife in France, and eventually made their way in July back to Homewood, traversing the Atlantic this time by steamer. —Paul Eisenberg, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026

The bird underwent surgery and spent several weeks recuperating. —Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 1 May 2026

Cheap Trick also spaces out dates when possible, giving members time to recuperate from the rigors of the road. —Marc Ballon, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026

Down the road, her old friend Nell Benefield recuperates from a bout with the flu. —Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin recuperatus, past participle of recuperare — more at recover

First Known Use

1542, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for recuperate

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• accumulate
• acuminate
• adjudicate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate

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