recoup

/riˈkup/

/riˈkup/

Other forms: recouped; recouping; recoups

To recoup is a kind of recovery: If you lost some money but then made that amount back, you recouped your loss.

When you recuperate, you get better after being sick. And when you recoup something, you get better or bounce back after a loss. Businesses that lose money try to recoup it by throwing a sale or cutting their budget. If a runner falls behind in a race but then speeds up to the front of the pack, he's recouped his lead. In some cases this word also means "to reimburse."

Definitions of recoup

1. verb

   regain or make up for
   synonyms: recover, recuperate

   types:

   catch up with, make up

   make up work that was missed due to absence at a later point

   type of:

   acquire, get

   come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
2. verb

   reimburse or compensate (someone), as for a loss
   synonyms: reimburse

   type of:

   compensate, recompense, remunerate

   make payment to; compensate
3. verb

   retain and refrain from disbursing; of payments
   synonyms: deduct, withhold

   types:

   dock

   deduct from someone's wages

   type of:

   hold on, keep

   retain possession of