Word
recuperate
Phoneticsre·cu·per·ate, stress on the second syllable
US/ɹɪˈkupɝˌeɪt/
UK/ɹɪkjˈuːpəɹˌeɪt/
Definition
v. to get better after being sick or injured. You use this when you need time to rest and regain your strength.
v. to recover from illness, injury, or exhaustion. Often implies a period of rest or medical treatment to restore health.
Examples
“She needs a week of vacation to recuperate from her surgery.”
“After the long hike through the mountains, the team stayed in the cabin for two days to recuperate.”
“The athlete's career was nearly over after the knee injury, but a strict regimen of physical therapy allowed him to recuperate and return to the field within six months.”
Examples
simple
“She needs a week of vacation to recuperate from her surgery.”
contextual
“After the long hike through the mountains, the team stayed in the cabin for two days to recuperate.”
complex
“The athlete's career was nearly over after the knee injury, but a strict regimen of physical therapy allowed him to recuperate and return to the field within six months.”
Real-World Examples
“The radio host has spent the last month “recuperating, resting, and recovering” after surgery that went “incredibly well”, and said he hoped to return to work soon.” “While recuperating, I came across a study that said survivors of life-threatening situations are some of the happiest people.” Etymology
Borrowed from Latin recuperāre, alternative form of reciperāre (“get again, regain, recover”). Doublet of recover. The pronunciation without /j/ may have been influenced by the semantically similar, but etymologically distinct verb recoup.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/recuperate