recuperate

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "recuperate" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to recovering or regaining strength or health after illness or exertion. Example sentence: After a long illness, she was finally starting to recuperate.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Doing too much can trigger a collapse and take weeks or months to recuperate from.

The Guardian

"We have sent out an urgent medical-legal team to start identification and we have a team working on the site to recuperate the bodies, parts of bodies or biological matter, depending on the circumstances, so we can proceed with the identification of the victims," Touron said.

The Guardian

That gives me time to recuperate in between classes.

The Guardian

The police chief has given hundreds of policemen three days off to recuperate.

The Economist

(Later in life one of Guthrie's daughters, Cathy, burned to death and, in yet another fire-related incident, Guthrie's own hands were burned so badly he could no longer play his guitar).When his father was taken to Texas to recuperate from his burns, Guthrie at 14 years old was left to fend for himself.

The Economist

A long stretch of sandy beaches dotted with 5-star hotels plays host to the growing numbers of foreign tourists who choose it as a holiday's last stop, to recuperate from all that sightseeing.

The Economist

It first came to notice during the long Italian summer when theatres and cinemas close down to recuperate and local councils try to keep people healthy and happy with free helpings of culture.

The Economist

Defeat, after all, need not mean a political demise; just a chance to rest and recuperate.

The Economist

He had helped the Lib Dems to recuperate from their many splits and mergers, given them a record 46 seats in Parliament, and recognised early on the strategic threat posed to them by Labour's metamorphosis into a sensible party of the centre-left.

The Economist

Pop in for an op; then stop off to recuperate at a nearby resort.

The Economist

Frontline units are already serving their third or fourth battle tours, and their deployments have been extended to 15 months with only a year at home to recuperate (British forces serve six-month tours, with two years at home).

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "recuperate", consider the context: it often implies a period of rest or recovery after an illness, injury, or strenuous activity.

Common error

Avoid using "recuperate" when simple rest or relaxation is sufficient. "Recuperate" implies a more significant recovery process is needed.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "recuperate" is as an intransitive verb, describing the process of regaining health or strength after illness, injury, or exertion. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's used to indicate recovery.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

6%

Reference

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "recuperate" is a grammatically correct and commonly used verb that signifies regaining health or strength after a period of illness, injury, or exertion. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for use in written English. It is frequently found in news and encyclopedic sources, reflecting a neutral to formal register. While synonyms like "recover" and "get better" exist, "recuperate" often implies a more significant and deliberate recovery process. Remember to use "recuperate" when the context warrants a more substantial recovery, and avoid substituting it for simple rest. The authoritative sources using this word include The Economist, Encyclopedia Britannica and The Independent. The frequency of "recuperate" use in the provided examples marks it as very common.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

recover

A more general term for regaining health, strength, or something lost.

get better

A simpler and more common way to express improvement in health.

bounce back

Implies a quick and resilient recovery.

convalesce

Refers specifically to recovering from an illness or injury.

restore oneself

Emphasizes the act of self-healing or rejuvenation.

regain strength

Focuses on the return of physical power or vigor.

return to health

A formal way of saying someone is recovering.

make a comeback

Suggests a return to a previous state of success or prominence after a setback.

heal

Focuses on the process of mending or repairing, especially after an injury.

revive

Implies a return to life or consciousness, often after a period of weakness.

FAQs

How can I use "recuperate" in a sentence?

You can use "recuperate" to describe the process of recovering from an illness or injury. For example, "After the surgery, she went home to "recuperate"".

What is a good synonym for "recuperate"?

A good synonym for "recuperate" is "recover", which also implies regaining health or strength.

Is it correct to use "recuperate" for emotional recovery?

Yes, although less common, "recuperate" can be used for emotional recovery, implying a need to regain emotional strength or well-being. A more common phrase would be "recover emotionally".

What's the difference between "recuperate" and "rehabilitate"?

"Recuperate" generally refers to regaining health or strength, while "rehabilitate" implies restoring someone or something to a former condition, often through therapy or training.