Standard Lemma guide

recoup

verb · 7 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.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ɹɪˈkuːp/
  • London: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Canada, General-American: /ɹɪˈkup/
  • Australian: /ɹɪˈkʉːp/
  • CMU ARPABET: R IH0 K UW1 P Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To make back (an investment or similar).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive, transitive

Examples

  • He barely managed to recoup his money. He sold out for just what he had invested.
  • to recoup losses made at the gaming table

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: recover

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To recover from an error.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To keep back rightfully (a part), as if by cutting off, so as to diminish a sum due; to take off (a part) from damages; to deduct.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Topics: law

Examples

  • A landlord recouped the rent of premises from damages awarded to the plaintiff for eviction.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To reimburse; to indemnify; often used reflexively and in the passive voice.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

retain and refrain from disbursing; of payments

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • My employer is withholding taxes

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: withhold, deduct

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: keep, hold on

Narrower terms: dock

6

verb

Meaning 6

regain or make up for

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • recuperate one's losses

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: recover, recuperate

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: get, acquire

Narrower terms: make up, catch up with

7

verb

Meaning 7

reimburse or compensate (someone), as for a loss

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: reimburse

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: compensate, recompense, remunerate

History

Etymology

From French recouper (“cut short”).

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: възвръщам си (vǎzvrǎštam si) — to make back, as an investment
  • Czech: získat zpět — to make back, as an investment
  • Czech: vynahradit si — to make back, as an investment
  • Czech: dostat nazpátek — to make back, as an investment
  • Finnish: saada takaisin — to make back, as an investment
  • Finnish: päästä omilleen — to make back, as an investment
  • Russian: окупать (okupatʹ) — to make back, as an investment
  • Spanish: recuperar — to make back, as an investment
  • Tagalog: uyanan — to make back, as an investment
  • Finnish: toipua — to recover from an error
  • Finnish: pidättää — to keep back rightfully
  • Bulgarian: обезщетявам (obezštetjavam) — to reimburse, indemnify
  • Bulgarian: компенсирам (kompensiram) — to reimburse, indemnify
  • Tagalog: uyanan — to reimburse, indemnify