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

Hotlotz, meanwhile, was asked to recuperate as much money as possible from the luxury goods. — Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2026

As for the days ahead, there’s an obvious parallel here about Mahomes recuperating as the Chiefs set out to recover from a 6-11 showing that ended their stunning run of five Super Bowl berths in six seasons. — Kansas City Star, 11 Sep. 2026

Pogačar may be back home in Monaco and recuperating — but Slovenians are still winning mountain stages. — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026

His doctors then ordered him to take three to four weeks to recuperate, saying his shows are too physically strenuous and his recovery is complicated by his lifelong type 1 diabetes. — Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 24 Aug. 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