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

• come back
• convalesce
• gain
• heal
• mend
• pull round [chiefly British]
• rally
• recoup
• recover
• snap back

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

After a year without sunlight, fresh air, or the everyday distractions of modern life, the team recuperated at a Black Sea resort. —Anastasia Stepanova, Space.com, 2 Feb. 2025

Almost every major fire has a camp like this one—a fairground or a sports field where a command center can operate and people can recuperate between shifts. —M. R. O’Connor, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025

For decades, American women’s basketball players have wrestled with career decisions every winter: Stay home to recuperate, work on marketing deals and spend time with family or spend winters abroad in Russia, China, Turkey, Italy, Israel and Spain. —Ben Pickman, The Athletic, 17 Jan. 2025

Jamie Foxx is recuperating after his representatives said he was hit by glass at a Beverly Hills restaurant where a fight with other people allegedly broke out Friday night. —Alex Stone, ABC News, 15 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin recuperatus, past participle of recuperare — more at recover

First Known Use

1542, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

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