re·cov·er (r -k v r)v. re·cov·ered, re·cov·er·ing, re·cov·ers v.tr.1. To get back; regain. 2. To restore (oneself) to a normal state: He recovered himself after a slip on the ice. 3. To compensate for: She recovered her losses. 4. To procure (usable substances, such as metal) from unusable substances, such as ore or waste. 5. To bring under observation again: "watching the comet since it was first recovered first spotted since its 1910 visit" Christian Science Monitor. v.intr.1. To regain a normal or usual condition, as of health. 2. To receive a favorable judgment in a lawsuit.
[Middle English recoveren, from Old French recoverer, from Latin recuper re; see recuperate.]
re·cov er·a·ble adj. re·cov er·er n. Synonyms: recover, regain, recoup, retrieve These verbs mean to get back something lost or taken away. Recover is the least specific: The police recovered the stolen car. "In a few days Mr. Barnstaple had recovered strength of body and mind" H.G. Wells. Regain suggests success in recovering something that has been taken from one: "hopeful to regain/Thy Love" John Milton. To recoup is to get back the equivalent of something lost: earned enough profit to recoup her expenses. Retrieve pertains to the effortful recovery of something (retrieved the ball) or to the making good of something gone awry: "By a brilliant coup he has retrieved . . . a rather serious loss" Samuel Butler. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Adj. | 1. | recovered - freed from illness or injury; "the patient appears cured"; "the incision is healed"; "appears to be entirely recovered"; "when the recovered patient tries to remember what occurred during his delirium"- Normon Cameronwell - in good health especially after having suffered illness or injury; "appears to be entirely well"; "the wound is nearly well"; "a well man"; "I think I'm well; at least I feel well" |
| 2. | recovered - found after being lostfound - come upon unexpectedly or after searching; "found art"; "the lost-and-found department" |