verb · 18 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.
/ɹɪˈdiːm/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
India:/ɾiːˈd̪iːm/
rhymes with -iːm
CMU ARPABET:R IH0 D IY1 M
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
verb
Meaning 1
To recover ownership of something by buying it back.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To liberate by payment of a ransom.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To set free by force.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
To save, rescue.
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
To clear, release from debt or blame.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
verb
Meaning 6
To expiate, atone (for).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
verb
Meaning 7
To convert (some bond or security) into cash.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Topics: business, finance
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
verb
Meaning 8
To save from a state of sin (and from its consequences).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
9
verb
Meaning 9
To repair, restore.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
10
verb
Meaning 10
To reform, change (for the better).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
11
verb
Meaning 11
To restore the honour, worth, or reputation of oneself or something.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
12
verb
Meaning 12
To reclaim.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
13
verb
Meaning 13
convert into cash; of commercial papers
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: cash, cash in
14
verb
Meaning 14
pay off (loans or promissory notes)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: pay off
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: pay
15
verb
Meaning 15
exchange or buy back for money; under threat
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: ransom
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: exchange, change, interchange
16
verb
Meaning 16
to turn in (vouchers or coupons) and receive something in exchange
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: exchange, change, interchange
17
verb
Meaning 17
restore the honor or worth of
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: restore, reinstate, reestablish
18
verb
Meaning 18
save from sins
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: deliver, save
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Etymology tree Latin red- Proto-Indo-European *h1em- Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *h1émeti Proto-Italic *emō Latin emō Latin redimōbor. Old French redimerbor. Middle English redemen English redeem From Middle English redemen, modified from Old French redimer, from Latin redimō (“release; obviate; atone for”), itself from red- (“back; again”) + emō (“buy; gain, take, procure”).
Across languages
Translations
154 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
откупвам
(otkupvam)
— to recover ownership of something by paying a sum
Catalan:
redimir
— to recover ownership of something by paying a sum
Chinese Mandarin:
赎回
(shúhuí)
— to recover ownership of something by paying a sum
Czech:
vykoupit
— to recover ownership of something by paying a sum
Czech:
vyplatit
— to recover ownership of something by paying a sum
Dutch:
terugkopen
— to recover ownership of something by paying a sum
Finnish:
lunastaa
— to recover ownership of something by paying a sum
Finnish:
ostaa takaisin
— to recover ownership of something by paying a sum
French:
racheter
— to recover ownership of something by paying a sum
German:
zurückkaufen
— to recover ownership of something by paying a sum
Irish:
fuascail
— to recover ownership of something by paying a sum
Japanese:
買い戻す
(kai-modosu)
— to recover ownership of something by paying a sum
Kapampangan:
atbus
— to recover ownership of something by paying a sum
Latin:
redimō
— to recover ownership of something by paying a sum
Manx:
feayshil
— to recover ownership of something by paying a sum
Manx:
aachionnee
— to recover ownership of something by paying a sum
Manx:
kionnee reesht
— to recover ownership of something by paying a sum
Occitan:
redimir
— to recover ownership of something by paying a sum
Polish:
odkupywać
— to recover ownership of something by paying a sum
Polish:
odkupić
— to recover ownership of something by paying a sum
Portuguese:
resgatar
— to recover ownership of something by paying a sum
Portuguese:
redimir
— to recover ownership of something by paying a sum
Russian:
выкупа́ть
(vykupátʹ)
— to recover ownership of something by paying a sum
Russian:
вы́купить
(výkupitʹ)
— to recover ownership of something by paying a sum
Spanish:
redimir
— to recover ownership of something by paying a sum
Turkish:
geri almak
— to recover ownership of something by paying a sum
Bulgarian:
откупвам
(otkupvam)
— to liberate by payment of ransom
Czech:
vykoupit
— to liberate by payment of ransom
Dutch:
vrijkopen
— to liberate by payment of ransom
Esperanto:
elaĉeti
— to liberate by payment of ransom
Finnish:
maksaa lunnaat
— to liberate by payment of ransom
German:
loslösen
— to liberate by payment of ransom
German:
freikaufen
— to liberate by payment of ransom
Ancient Greek:
λυτροω
(lutroō)
— to liberate by payment of ransom
Irish:
fuascail
— to liberate by payment of ransom
Latin:
redimō
— to liberate by payment of ransom
Occitan:
redimir
— to liberate by payment of ransom
Polish:
odkupywać
— to liberate by payment of ransom
Polish:
odkupić
— to liberate by payment of ransom
Russian:
выкупа́ть
(vykupátʹ)
— to liberate by payment of ransom
Russian:
вы́купить
(výkupitʹ)
— to liberate by payment of ransom
Swedish:
återlösa
— to liberate by payment of ransom
Turkish:
kurtarmak
— to liberate by payment of ransom
Bulgarian:
освобождавам
(osvoboždavam)
— to set free by force
Danish:
befri
— to set free by force
Dutch:
bevrijden
— to set free by force
Finnish:
vapauttaa
— to set free by force
French:
libérer
— to set free by force
German:
befreien
— to set free by force
Irish:
fuascail
— to set free by force
Occitan:
desliurar
— to set free by force
Occitan:
liberar
— to set free by force
Portuguese:
libertar
— to set free by force
Swedish:
befria
— to set free by force
Turkish:
kurtarmak
— to set free by force
Bulgarian:
спасявам
(spasjavam)
— to save, rescue, recover
Czech:
vykoupit
— to save, rescue, recover
Danish:
redde
— to save, rescue, recover
Danish:
frelse
— to save, rescue, recover
Dutch:
redden
— to save, rescue, recover
Dutch:
verlossen
— to save, rescue, recover
Finnish:
pelastaa
— to save, rescue, recover
French:
secourir
— to save, rescue, recover
German:
befreien
— to save, rescue, recover
Greek:
εξαγοράζω
(exagorázo)
— to save, rescue, recover
Occitan:
redimir
— to save, rescue, recover
Occitan:
rescaptar
— to save, rescue, recover
Portuguese:
resgatar
— to save, rescue, recover
Swedish:
rädda
— to save, rescue, recover
Vietnamese:
cứu chuộc
— to save, rescue, recover
Vietnamese:
chuộc
— to save, rescue, recover
Czech:
vykoupit
— to clear, release from debt or blame
Finnish:
vapauttaa
— to clear, release from debt or blame
French:
libérer
— to clear, release from debt or blame
French:
soulager
— to clear, release from debt or blame
Occitan:
redimir
— to clear, release from debt or blame
Portuguese:
redimir
— to clear, release from debt or blame
Spanish:
redimir
— to clear, release from debt or blame
Bulgarian:
изкупвам
(izkupvam)
— to expiate, atone for
Czech:
vykoupit
— to expiate, atone for
Dutch:
uitboeten
— to expiate, atone for
Esperanto:
elaĉeti
— to expiate, atone for
Finnish:
sovittaa
— to expiate, atone for
Portuguese:
redimir-se
— to expiate, atone for
Spanish:
redimirse
— to expiate, atone for
Swedish:
gottgöra
— to expiate, atone for
Swedish:
sona
— to expiate, atone for
Bulgarian:
осребрявам
(osrebrjavam)
— to convert into cash
Catalan:
bescanviar
— to convert into cash
Czech:
proplatit
— to convert into cash
Dutch:
afbetalen
— to convert into cash
Dutch:
aflossen
— to convert into cash
Dutch:
inlossen
— to convert into cash
Dutch:
omzetten
— to convert into cash
Dutch:
uitboeten
— to convert into cash
Dutch:
vrijkopen
— to convert into cash
Dutch:
genoegdoen
— to convert into cash
Finnish:
lunastaa
— to convert into cash
French:
liquider
— to convert into cash
German:
einlösen
— to convert into cash
Greek:
εξαργυρώνω
(exargyróno)
— to convert into cash
Irish:
fuascail
— to convert into cash
Italian:
riscattare
— to convert into cash
Polish:
spieniężać
— to convert into cash
Russian:
обнали́чивать
(obnalíčivatʹ)
— to convert into cash
Slovene:
vnovčiti
— to convert into cash
Spanish:
canjear
— to convert into cash
Dutch:
herstellen
— to repair, restore
Finnish:
korjata
— to repair, restore
French:
réparer
— to repair, restore
French:
rétablir
— to repair, restore
German:
wiederherstellen
— to repair, restore
Swedish:
återställa
— to repair, restore
Turkish:
eski duruma döndürmek
— to repair, restore
Turkish:
tadilat yapmak
— to repair, restore
Finnish:
uudistaa
— to change for the better, reform
French:
améliorer
— to change for the better, reform
French:
réformer
— to change for the better, reform
German:
verbessern
— to change for the better, reform
Russian:
улучша́ться
(ulučšátʹsja)
— to change for the better, reform
Russian:
улу́чшиться
(ulúčšitʹsja)
— to change for the better, reform
Turkish:
iyileştirmek
— to change for the better, reform
Czech:
vykoupit
— to save from a state of sin
Danish:
frelse
— to save from a state of sin
Finnish:
lunastaa
— to save from a state of sin
Finnish:
vapahtaa
— to save from a state of sin
Finnish:
armahtaa
— to save from a state of sin
Finnish:
pelastaa
— to save from a state of sin
German:
erlösen
— to save from a state of sin
Hebrew:
גָּאַל
(ga'ál)
— to save from a state of sin
Irish:
slánaigh
— to save from a state of sin
Italian:
redimere
— to save from a state of sin
Japanese:
あがなう
(aganau)
— to save from a state of sin
Occitan:
redimir
— to save from a state of sin
Polish:
odkupywać
— to save from a state of sin
Polish:
odkupić
— to save from a state of sin
Portuguese:
redimir
— to save from a state of sin
Russian:
искупа́ть
(iskupátʹ)
— to save from a state of sin
Russian:
искупи́ть
(iskupítʹ)
— to save from a state of sin
Spanish:
redimir
— to save from a state of sin
Swedish:
frälsa
— to save from a state of sin
Swedish:
återlösa
— to save from a state of sin
Turkish:
arıtmak
— to save from a state of sin
Turkish:
temizlemek
— to save from a state of sin
Finnish:
palauttaa kunnia
— to restore the reputation, honour of ...
French:
racheter
— to restore the reputation, honour of ...
German:
(Ruf) wiederherstellen
— to restore the reputation, honour of ...
Japanese:
回復する
(kaifuku-suru)
— to restore the reputation, honour of ...
Portuguese:
redimir
— to restore the reputation, honour of ...
Russian:
обеля́ть
(obeljátʹ)
— to restore the reputation, honour of ...
Russian:
обели́ть
(obelítʹ)
— to restore the reputation, honour of ...
Spanish:
redimir
— to restore the reputation, honour of ...
Turkish:
aklamak
— to restore the reputation, honour of ...
Turkish:
temize çıkarmak
— to restore the reputation, honour of ...