# reclaimed

/ɹiˈkɫeɪmd/ (US) · /ɹɪklˈeɪmd/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/reclaimed
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

describing something that has been taken back or made useful again. You often use this for old wood or land that was once underwater.

For teachers: referring to materials or land recovered from a state of waste, neglect, or natural submersion for reuse. Often used as a participial adjective in environmental or design contexts.

## Examples

- The dining table is made from reclaimed oak.
- The city built a beautiful public park on reclaimed land that used to be an industrial shipyard.
- Architects are increasingly specifying reclaimed timber and recycled steel to reduce the carbon footprint of new residential developments while adding a sense of historical character.

## Usage notes

- Typically used as an adjective before a noun (attributive) or after a linking verb (predicative).

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