Reclaim - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Reclaim means to recover or regain something that was lost, taken, or unused. It can also refer to restoring land or resources to a better state, such as recycling materials.
Definition:
To retrieve or recover something lost or taken; to make land usable again.
Synonyms:
recover, retrieve, regain, restore, salvage
Part of Speech:
verb, noun
Antonyms:
abandon, forfeit, surrender
Common Collocations:
reclaim land, reclaim territory, reclaim lost items, reclaim expenses, reclaim identity
Derivatives:
reclaimer, reclaimable, reclamation
Usage Tips:
Use "reclaim" for recovering possessions or restoring land; often implies effort or legal process.
Common Phrases:
reclaim your rights, reclaim the throne, reclaim lost ground
Etymology:
From Old French *reclamer*, Latin *reclamare* ("to cry out against"), from *re-* ("again") + *clamare* ("to shout").
Examples:
- 1. She tried to reclaim her stolen necklace from the pawnshop.
- 2. The city plans to reclaim the abandoned industrial site for a park.
- 3. He hopes to reclaim his reputation after the scandal.
- 4. Farmers reclaimed the swampy land for agriculture.