recovering
4 synonyms for recovering, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The process of getting better or getting something back.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
The process of getting better or getting something back.
“Doctors say her recovering is going well.”
2. adj
In the process of getting better, especially from illness or addiction.
“He introduced himself as a recovering alcoholic.”
How to use recovering
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
recovering alcoholic
recovering patient
Etymology
Came from Middle English recoveryng, equivalent to recover plus -ing.
Full origin of recovering →Frequently asked questions
What does “recovering” mean?
The word “recovering” means the process of getting better or getting something back. In plain terms, in the middle of getting better, often used for illness or addiction.
How do you use “recovering” in a sentence?
Here is “recovering” used in a sentence: “Doctors say her recovering is going well.”
What part of speech is “recovering”?
Depending on how it is used, “recovering” can be a noun and an adjective.
Is “recovering” a common word?
“Recovering” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “recovering” have?
“Recovering” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the process of getting better or getting something back.
What is the difference between recovering and recovered?
Recovering describes someone who is currently in the process of getting better, while recovered describes someone who has fully returned to health or a previous state. A 'recovering patient' is still healing, whereas a 'recovered patient' has finished the process.
What does it mean to describe someone as 'a recovering addict'?
Describing someone as a recovering addict means they are actively working through the process of overcoming addiction, typically implying ongoing effort rather than a finished outcome. The term acknowledges that recovery from addiction is often treated as an continuing process rather than a single completed event.
Can recovering be used as a noun as well as an adjective?
Yes, recovering can function as a noun referring to the process of getting better or getting something back, as in 'the recovering of lost data,' as well as an adjective describing someone in that process, as in 'a recovering economy.' The adjective use is far more common in everyday speech.
