Reclaim Meaning
/ɹɪˈkleɪm/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
verbTo return land to a suitable condition for use.
verbTo obtain useful products from waste; to recycle.
Sentence Examples
Some day man will reclaim the desert for agriculture.
Nature has begun to reclaim these spaces.
The new project will reclaim the land from the sea.
CEFR Practice Quiz
After paying the late fee, she was able to ____ her confiscated passport from the office.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The environmental group worked to ____ the polluted land and restore it to its natural state.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English reclaymen, recleymen, reclamen, from Anglo-Norman reclamer (noun reclaim and Middle French reclamer (noun reclaim), from Latin reclāmō, reclāmāre. Equivalent to re- + claim.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"His Highneſſe pleaſure is that he ſhould liue,
And be reclaim’d with princely lenitie."
— c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act II, scene ii:
"Your errour, in time reclaimed, will be veniall."
— 1609, Edward Hoby, A Letter to Mr. T[heophilus] H[iggons], late Minister: now Fugitive ... in answere of his first Motive:
"They, hardened more by what might most reclaim, / Grieving to see his glory […] took envy."
— 1667, John Milton, “Book VI”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
"It is the intention of Providence, in all the various expressions of his goodness, to reclaim mankind."
— a. 1729, John Rogers, The Goodness of God a Motive to Repentance:
"an eagle well reclaimed"
— 1700, [John] Dryden, “Palamon and Arcite: Or, The Knight’s Tale. In Three Books.”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
After paying the late fee, she was able to ____ her confiscated passport from the office.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The environmental group worked to ____ the polluted land and restore it to its natural state.