# recoup

/ɹɪˈkup/ (US) · /ɹɪkˈuːp/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/recoup
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

to get back the money you spent on something. It can also mean to recover your strength or health after a difficult time.

For teachers: to recover an amount of money previously spent or lost; to regain physical strength or mental balance after a period of exhaustion or stress.

## Examples

- The company needs to recoup its investment before the end of the year.
- After a long and difficult recovery from the surgery, the patient finally managed to recoup her strength and return to work.
- The legal team argued that the defendant should be allowed to recoup the costs of the investigation, as the evidence ultimately proved the plaintiff's claim was fraudulent.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.