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

In between, Nelson was fired after less than one season in New York in 1995-96, then coached in Dallas for eight seasons, missing 21 games with the Mavericks starting in December 2000 to recuperate from prostate cancer surgery. — John Raby, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2026

Stringent old rules, taboos, and social roles have given way – including the requisite that new mothers eat a dozen eggs a day and don’t bathe – and now, women recuperate more flexibly at home or even in spalike postpartum centers. — Ann Scott Tyson, Christian Science Monitor, 4 Aug. 2026

In Fire & Blood, Martin writes how Sunfyre survived the battle of Rook’s Rest, but was essentially flightless for a time while recuperating. — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 2026

At the end of the movie, Spidey recuperates, and Jean heads out of town (and possibly to Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters upstate). — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 31 July 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