Standard Lemma guide

recapture

noun · verb · 11 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -æptʃə(ɹ)
  • CMU ARPABET: R IY0 K AE1 P CH ER0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The act of capturing again.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The recapture of the escaped prisoner made the news.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: recatch

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

That which is captured back; a prize retaken.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

The retroactive collection of taxes that were not collectible at the time.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: business, finance

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To capture something for a second or subsequent time, especially after a loss.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The warden hoped to recapture the escaped prisoners before they reached the town.
  • New engine designs permit the vehicle to recapture the kinetic energy lost through braking.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To capture an opponent's piece immediately after it has captured on the same square.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: board-games, chess, games

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

the act of taking something back

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: retaking

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: recovery, retrieval

7

noun

Meaning 7

a legal seizure by the government of profits beyond a fixed amount

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: seizure

8

verb

Meaning 8

capture again

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • recapture the escaped prisoner

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: retake

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: get, catch, capture

9

verb

Meaning 9

take up anew

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The author recaptures an old idea here

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: capture

10

verb

Meaning 10

experience anew

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • She could not recapture that feeling of happiness

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: feel, experience

11

verb

Meaning 11

take back by force, as after a battle

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The military forces managed to recapture the fort

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: retake

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: take

Narrower terms: reconquer

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Italic *wre- Latin re-der. Old French re-bor. Middle English re- English re- English capture English recapture From re- + capture.

Across languages

Translations

19 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Galician: recaptura — act of capturing again
  • Hungarian: újbóli/ismételt elfogás — act of capturing again
  • Hungarian: visszafoglalás — act of capturing again
  • Manx: aaghoaill — act of capturing again
  • Manx: aachappeeys — act of capturing again
  • Norwegian Bokmål: gjenerobring — act of capturing again
  • Spanish: recaptura — act of capturing again
  • Bulgarian: възвръщам си (vǎzvrǎštam si) — to capture something for a second time
  • French: capturer encore — to capture something for a second time
  • French: capturer de nouveau — to capture something for a second time
  • French: recapturer — to capture something for a second time
  • Galician: recapturar — to capture something for a second time
  • German: wieder einfangen — to capture something for a second time
  • German: zurückerobern — to capture something for a second time
  • Hungarian: újból/újra/ismét elfog — to capture something for a second time
  • Hungarian: visszafoglal — to capture something for a second time
  • Persian: بازپس گرفتن (bâz-pas gereftan) — to capture something for a second time
  • Portuguese: recapturar — to capture something for a second time
  • Spanish: recapturar — to capture something for a second time
Real reading context

recapture in complete knowledge articles