verb B1 Intermediate Uncommon

reclaim

rih-KLAYM

Reclaim (verb) means to get something back that was lost, taken, or given up. Example: “She reclaimed her maiden name after the divorce.”

verb

To get something back that was lost, taken, or given up.

"She reclaimed her maiden name after the divorce."

"He went to the lost-and-found to reclaim his umbrella."

To make land usable again, especially by draining water or clearing waste from it.

"The city reclaimed the old dockyards and turned them into a park."

To recover useful material from waste so it can be reused.

"The factory reclaims scrap metal from old appliances."

How to use reclaim

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo take back or restore something — a possession, a piece of land, or a word.

Common pairings

reclaim land reclaim your identity reclaimed wood

Word forms

reclaimed past tense, reclaims singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She _____ her maiden name after the divorce.

Etymology

From Old French reclamer, from Latin reclamare, "to cry out against, protest" — the sense shifted over time from "call back" to today's "get back" or "restore."

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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reform recover tame rectify regenerate repossess domesticate domesticize domesticise

Related words

break wild domestic fix reform recovery destroy rescue

Rhymes for reclaim

aim maim claim Chaim acclaim exclaim Ephraim proclaim

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Frequently asked questions

What does “reclaim” mean?

The word “reclaim” means to get something back that was lost, taken, or given up. In plain terms, to take back or restore something — a possession, a piece of land, or a word.

How do you pronounce “reclaim”?

“Reclaim” is pronounced rih-KLAYM (/ɹɪˈkleɪm/ in IPA).

How do you use “reclaim” in a sentence?

Here is “reclaim” used in a sentence: “She reclaimed her maiden name after the divorce.”

What part of speech is “reclaim”?

“Reclaim” is a verb.

Where does the word “reclaim” come from?

The word “reclaim” comes from Latin. From Old French reclamer, from Latin reclamare, "to cry out against, protest" — the sense shifted over time from "call back" to today's "get back" or "restore.".

Is “reclaim” a common word?

“Reclaim” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “reclaim” have?

“Reclaim” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to get something back that was lost, taken, or given up.

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