recuperate

verb

re·​cu·​per·​ate ri-ˈkü-pə-ˌrāt How to pronounce recuperate (audio)
-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 noun

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
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.
This included industrialization, and, with it, the conception of leisure as a way of allowing people to recuperate from work with a temporary escape from the ugly, unhealthy atmosphere of the city. Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 23 Mar. 2025 The crew member recuperated and was back in the wind tunnel practicing within a month. Ars Technica, 23 Mar. 2025 The case was thought to be travel-related, Suffolk County officials said, and the child was already home and recuperating. Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 12 Mar. 2025 The Vatican reported that the 88-year-old pontiff had another restful night at Rome's Gemelli hospital and was recuperating Thursday morning. David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for recuperate

Word History

Etymology

Latin recuperatus, past participle of recuperare — more at recover

First Known Use

1542, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of recuperate was in 1542

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Recuperate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recuperate. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

recuperate

verb
re·​cu·​per·​ate ri-ˈk(y)ü-pə-ˌrāt How to pronounce recuperate (audio)
recuperated; recuperating
: recover sense 2
especially : to regain health or strength
recuperation noun

Medical Definition

recuperate

verb
re·​cu·​per·​ate ri-ˈk(y)ü-pə-ˌrāt How to pronounce recuperate (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on recuperate

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