recapture

1 of 2

noun

re·​cap·​ture (ˌ)rē-ˈkap-chər 

1

a

: the act of retaking

b

: an instance of being retaken

2

: the retaking of a prize or goods under international law

3

: a government seizure under law of earnings or profits beyond a fixed amount

recapture

2 of 2

verb

recaptured; recapturing; recaptures

transitive verb

1

a

: to capture again

b

: to experience again

by no effort of the imagination could she recapture the ecstasy

—Ellen Glasgow

2

: to take (something, such as a portion of earnings or profits above a fixed amount) by law or through negotiations under law

Synonyms

Noun

• reclamation
• recoupment
• recovery
• repossession
• retrieval

Verb

• get back
• re-collect
• reacquire
• reclaim
• recoup
• recover
• regain
• repossess
• retake
• retrieve

Examples of recapture in a Sentence

Noun

the recapture of the territory may take longer than expected

Verb

The guards recaptured the escaped prisoner.

The soldiers recaptured the hill they had lost the day before.

In the final lap of the race, he recaptured the lead.

They are trying to recapture those happy times they had together.

The documentary recaptures the social tensions of the 1960s.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Some deals require the seller to provide an annual compliance certificate to the buyer, but avoiding recapture and complying with the labor requirements are largely the project developer’s purview. —Marie Sapirie, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024

Now, with the government’s recapture of the Nasib gate, Daraa—the rebel stronghold where the uprising that sparked the country’s civil war began—lay open to Damascus. —Suha Maayeh, Foreign Affairs, 23 July 2018

Verb

How to get back on track, recapture the celebratory vibes of SNL’s 50th-anniversary year, and improve morale at Rockefeller Center? —Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 11 Nov. 2024

By the numbers: Trump's chances of recapturing the White House fell from 67% on Polymarket on Oct. 30 to 53% on Sunday and then back to 62% on Tuesday morning. —Nathan Bomey, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1752, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1799, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

recapture

verb

re·​cap·​ture

(ˈ)rē-ˈkap-chər

1

: to capture again

recaptured the escaped prisoner

2

: to experience again

trying to recapture those happy times

Legal Definition

recapture

1 of 2 transitive verb

re·​cap·​ture

ˌrē-ˈkap-chər

recaptured; recapturing

1

: to capture again

2

: to recover or take (as an excess or gain) by law or agreement

especially : to recover (a tax benefit) by higher or additional taxation of income or property that ceases to qualify for a credit or deduction or by taxing gain realized from the sale or exchange of such property

the government recaptured the depreciation by taxing the gain resulting from the difference between the sale price and the basis after depreciation

recapture

2 of 2 noun

1

: the act or process of recapturing

2

: an amount recaptured or subject to recapture