reclaim

verb

ri-ˈklām How to pronounce reclaim (audio)
Definition of reclaimnext
1
as in to regain
to get again in one's possession she reclaimed the championship title after losing it last year

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to rehabilitate
to make better in behavior or character a program to reclaim juvenile offenders by requiring them to do community service

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to recycle
to obtain (a raw material) by separating it from a by-product or waste product after reclaiming the glycerin from used vegetable oil, you can use the oil to create a fuel that burns cleaner than regular gasoline

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb reclaim contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of reclaim are deliver, ransom, redeem, rescue, and save. While all these words mean "to set free from confinement or danger," reclaim suggests a bringing back to a former state or condition of someone or something abandoned or debased.

reclaimed long-abandoned farms

Where would deliver be a reasonable alternative to reclaim?

While the synonyms deliver and reclaim are close in meaning, deliver implies release usually of a person from confinement, temptation, slavery, or suffering.

delivered his people from bondage

When could ransom be used to replace reclaim?

The words ransom and reclaim can be used in similar contexts, but ransom specifically applies to buying out of captivity.

tried to ransom the kidnap victim

When is it sensible to use redeem instead of reclaim?

The meanings of redeem and reclaim largely overlap; however, redeem implies releasing from bondage or penalties by giving what is demanded or necessary.

job training designed to redeem school dropouts from chronic unemployment

In what contexts can rescue take the place of reclaim?

Although the words rescue and reclaim have much in common, rescue implies freeing from imminent danger by prompt or vigorous action.

rescued the crew of a sinking ship

When can save be used instead of reclaim?

While in some cases nearly identical to reclaim, save may replace any of the foregoing terms; it may further imply a preserving or maintaining for usefulness or continued existence.

an operation that saved my life

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of reclaim How to Watch Finland vs United States: Date: Wednesday, Apr. 9, 2025 Time: 9:00 AM ET Channel: NHL Network Stream: Fubo (Try for free) The USA is looking to reclaim the title for the first time since 2023. —Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025 Microsoft also had the highest market capitalization of any public company in early 2024, but Apple soon reclaimed the title. —Jordan Novet, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2025 There’s still work to do before reclaiming the highs just below 72, but if the broader market starts to stabilize, EBAY could make another run at that breakout zone. —Frank Cappelleri, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2025 Regardless, the failure to reclaim Wisconsin’s court will have large-scale consequences given the activism of the liberal majority. —The Editors, National Review, 2 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for reclaim
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reclaim
  1. regain
  2. rehabilitate
  3. recycle
  4. recapture
  5. redeem
  6. recover
  7. retrieve
Verb
  • Williams-Paisley regained her ability to speak out loud again immediately following the surgery.
    — Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Make sure the tires reconnect with the road - During the skid, wait until the tires reconnect with the road and then gently straighten the wheels to regain control.
    — STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025
Definition of regain
Verb
  • Grant Williams wasn’t going anywhere yet and was among the last to finally emerge from his latest training session rehabilitating his torn right ACL.
    — Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 5 Apr. 2025
  • But Daniels, 27, is still rehabilitating an Achilles injury from Week 5 of last season.
    — Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2025
Definition of rehabilitate
Verb
  • Together, these efforts illustrate how artificial intelligence is reshaping waste management globally, making recycling more efficient, sustainable and impactful.
    — Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, FOXNews.com, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Will, who works for an environmental nonprofit, argues that humans won’t be able to recycle their way out of the crisis and that harping on personal responsibility only lets corporate perpetrators off the hook.
    — Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2025
Definition of recycle
Verb
  • While college basketball’s hiatus should help the UFL recapture some casual fans, the Week 3 slate will run headlong into the ratings juggernaut that is the Masters on CBS.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Hollow Knight Countless games have attempted to recapture the magic of Dark Souls since its auspicious release in 2012, but none have gone about it quite like Hollow Knight.
    — Luke Winkie, Vulture, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of recapture
Verb
  • Customers may redeem a free Ben & Jerry's scoop of their choice, cone included, at any participating Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shop on Free Cone Day.
    — Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Raise your status to redeem better bonuses and discounts for traveling. NHL fans can find a Hat Trick Jackpot.
    — Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of redeem
Verb
  • They are all expected to fully recover, Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare officials said.
    — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 20 Apr. 2025
  • The sea lion was euthanized after it was deemed to be too sick to recover.
    — Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Definition of recover
Verb
  • The rotor of the helicopter from last week's deadly crash has been retrieved from the Hudson River, four days after the devastating accident that killed all six people on board, according to a statement from the National Transportation Safety Board.
    — Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 14 Apr. 2025
  • The Titanic’s owner, the White Star Line, chartered the Mackay-Bennett, a steamer normally used for repairing trans-Atlantic telegraph cables, to retrieve as many bodies as possible.
    — Greg Daugherty, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of retrieve

Browse Nearby Words

reckon with
reclaim
reclaimable
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Cite this Entry

“Reclaim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reclaim. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

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