reclaims; reclaimed; reclaiming
1
: to get back (something that was lost or taken away)
Sons and daughters are proudly reclaiming the traditions that their parents had forgotten.
She reclaimed the title of world champion this year.
You might be able to reclaim some of the money you contributed.
2
: to make (land) available for use by changing its condition
Environmental groups have been reclaiming contaminated sites.
Acres of land were reclaimed by conservationists.
reclaimed swampland
3
: to get (a usable material) from materials that have been used before
The factory reclaims fibers from textile wastes.
These bottles were made from reclaimed [=(more commonly) recycled] plastic.
Cite this Entry
“Reclaim.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/reclaim. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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