recover

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "recover" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to regaining health, strength, or a previous state after a setback or loss. Example: "After a long illness, it took her several months to fully recover and return to her normal routine."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"The parents were hoping he would come with some information for them about where the girls may be and what efforts are being done to recover them, but instead to be told he is not coming was not easy for them.

The Guardian

In this slump, it is down almost 7 percent, and still has not really begun to recover.

The New York Times

This civic-mindedness has never been allowed to recover, due in large part to the loyalist paramilitaries who demonstrated the other night in east Belfast that they are not yet ready to allow their communities the emancipation they truly deserve.

The Guardian - Opinion

"That makes me wonder whether I will be able to recover my instinct for the game," he said.

The Guardian - Sport

Civic planners in the world's largest metropolises have learned how to make urban spaces safer and more liveable, allowing cities to recover, thanks to new approaches to policing and social investment," he says.

The Guardian

As he tries to dig the ball out from under his feet, Naughton does just enough to recover and clear.

The Guardian - Sport

Judge Llewellyn rejected Mrs Al-Daher's counter-claim to recover the £1m of her debt she had paid in December 2012.

The Guardian

He has returned home from the team's training camp to recover.

The Guardian - Sport

But they show that given time, stock markets usually recover from their lows.

The Guardian - Money

Away from Chibok, the social media campaign to #bringbackourgirls has generated more than one million tweets and swelled into a global outcry, with famous figures including Angelina Jolie, Malala Yousafzai and Michelle Obama joining the calls for Nigeria's government to recover the remaining girls.

The Guardian

But the focus here fell upon Rodgers and whether he could recover from this low point.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about recovering from an illness, use "recover" to emphasize a return to full health and functionality. For example: "She is expected to fully recover from the surgery."

Common error

Avoid using "recover" interchangeably with "discover". "Recover" means to regain something lost or return to a normal state, while "discover" means to find something unexpectedly or during a search.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "recover" is as a verb, indicating the action of regaining something lost or returning to a previous state. As Ludwig AI explains, it encompasses ideas from retrieval to healing.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Sport

20%

Business

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The verb "recover" is frequently used to express the act of regaining something lost, whether physical, emotional, or economic. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and wide applicability. The examples from Ludwig showcase its versatility across various domains, including news, sports, and business. While generally neutral in tone, its formality can increase in scientific or medical contexts. Related phrases like "regain" and "retrieve" offer similar meanings, while phrases such as "bounce back" and "pull through" suggest overcoming challenges. When using "recover", be mindful of its specific connotation and avoid redundant expressions like "recover back".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

get back

Implies regaining possession of something.

regain

Suggests recovering something, often in a gradual process.

recoup

Emphasizes recovering something lost, often financially.

retrieve

Indicates actively finding and bringing something back.

reclaim

Suggests asserting one's right to recover something.

recuperate

Focuses on recovering health or strength.

bounce back

Implies a quick and resilient recovery from a setback.

get over

Specifically refers to recovering from an illness or emotional distress.

turn around

Describes an improvement or recovery in a situation or business.

pull through

Suggests surviving a difficult situation or illness.

FAQs

How can I use "recover" in a sentence?

You can use "recover" to describe regaining something lost, such as "to "recover lost time"" or "to "recover damages"". It can also refer to regaining health or composure.

What are some alternatives to the word "recover"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "regain", "retrieve", "get back", or "recuperate".

Is it correct to say "recover back"?

Saying "recover back" is generally redundant because "recover" already implies regaining something. It's better to simply use "recover".

What's the difference between "recover" and "discover"?

"Recover" means to get something back that was lost or to return to a normal state. "Discover" means to find something new or unexpected. For example, you "recover data" from a hard drive, but you "discover new species" in the rainforest.