recovering

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "recovering" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the process of getting better after an illness, injury, or difficult situation. Example: "After a long battle with illness, she is finally recovering and regaining her strength."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A small group of us, including a student recovering from exams, a woman with a broken heart and a pair that had stayed at Zamzam before and vowed to return, gathered for some pre-departure pampering.

The Guardian - Travel

I am miserable because one of the two people I love most is not recovering from his illness.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

With gold stabilising after its recent declines - which were based on worries about countries such as Cyprus selling some of their reserves along with signs of slowdown in China - and base metals such as copper recovering, mining shares regained some lost ground.

The Guardian - Business

Blazer is now receiving treatment in a New York hospital, where he is recovering from extensive treatment for colon cancer.

The Guardian - Sport

And it is always hard to trim tax expenditures such as the mortgage interest deduction and state and local tax preferences – especially now, at a moment when the economy is still recovering from a housing-led downturn and state and local governments still face significant deficits that need to be closed.

The Guardian

Mourinho confirmed after the friendly that his striker Didier Drogba is recovering well from the injury he picked up last week.

The Guardian - Sport

A spokesperson for the Royal Victoria hospital confirmed Robinson had a medical procedure after he arrived there, saying: "Mr Robinson underwent a procedure this morning and is currently recovering.

The Guardian

Kaberuka concedes that some countries recovering from conflict will need international help, but says those steadily "graduating" thanks to remittances, foreign direct investment and access to capital markets – Ghana is a prime example – should become independent of aid in the not-too-distant future.

The Guardian

His big break came in 1976 when, in the middle of the crucial debate with the Wilson government over wage restraint, he deputised for Murray, who was recovering from a heart attack.

The Guardian

A group of victims of the Hatton Garden jewellery raid have been told that the chances of recovering their losses are "very limited".

The Guardian

And because the coalition was so savage in its programme of fiscal austerity – knocking on the head an economy that was, in fact, recovering until it took over – output is only just back to its pre-crisis peak, and real incomes and living standards are way below.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a situation where something is improving after a decline, consider using "recovering" to convey a sense of progress and restoration. For example, "The economy is recovering after the recession".

Common error

The word "recovering" implies a process over time. Don't use it when something changes instantly. For instance, instead of saying "The price recovered immediately", it's better to say "The price rebounded immediately".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "recovering" is as a present participle, often used in continuous verb tenses (e.g., "is recovering") or as an adjective. Ludwig's examples show it modifying nouns (e.g., "recovering addict") or describing ongoing processes.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "recovering" functions primarily as a present participle, denoting an ongoing process of returning to a normal state after a period of decline. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across diverse contexts. It is particularly frequent in News & Media. While "recovering" is versatile, avoid using it for sudden or immediate changes. Alternatives such as "getting better", "healing", and "improving" can provide nuanced meanings depending on the specific context. Its widespread usage and authoritative sources make "recovering" a reliable and effective choice in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

recuperating

Implies a period of rest and recovery, often after illness or exertion.

getting better

Focuses on the process of improvement in health or condition.

on the mend

An idiomatic expression indicating progress towards recovery.

healing

Emphasizes the restoration of health or well-being.

improving

Highlights the act of making progress toward a better state.

bouncing back

Suggests a rapid and resilient return to a previous state.

returning to form

Indicates a return to a previous level of skill or performance.

making a comeback

Refers to regaining popularity or success after a period of decline.

regaining

Implies getting something back that was lost or taken away.

restoring

Focuses on bringing something back to its original condition.

FAQs

How to use "recovering" in a sentence?

"Recovering" is often used to describe a state of improvement after illness, injury, or economic downturn. For example, "She is "recovering from surgery"" or "The economy is "recovering slowly".

What can I say instead of "recovering"?

You can use alternatives like "getting better", "healing", or "improving" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "recovering from" or "recovering of"?

The correct phrase is "recovering from". For example, "recovering from an illness" is grammatically correct, while "recovering of an illness" is incorrect.

What's the difference between "recovering" and "curing"?

"Recovering" implies a gradual return to health or a previous state, while "curing" suggests a complete elimination of the illness or problem. You "recover from" an illness, but a doctor "cures an illness".