Meanings
present singular third person recoups · participle present recouping · participle past recouped · past recouped
- intransitivetransitiveTo make back (an investment or similar).
to recoup losses made at the gaming table
4 more examples
He barely managed to recoup his money. He sold out for just what he had invested.
In July British Railways installed train-operated red-and-white level crossing half-barriers of a new design at 11 places, […] The cost is given at £800 a pair, which can be readily recouped on savings in the cost of manning ordinary gated crossings.
1964 August, “News and Comment: New BR standard half-barrier”, in Modern Railways, page 88And when it fails to recoup? Well, maybe you just haven't earned it yet, baby
1987, “Paint a Vulgar Picture”, in Morrissey (lyrics), Johnny Marr (music), Strangeways, Here We Come, performed by The SmithsDisney has still not recouped $4.2bn of its investment in Disneyland Paris after more than 30 years, even though the resort is now its best-performing international outpost, according to an analysis of recent filings.
2026 June 4, Christian Sylt, Caroline Reid, “Disney racks up $4.2bn deficit on Paris parks”, in The Guardian, →ISSNSynonyms: recover
- intransitiveTo recover from an error.
- transitivelawTo 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.
A landlord recouped the rent of premises from damages awarded to the plaintiff for eviction.
- transitiveTo reimburse; to indemnify; often used reflexively and in the passive voice.
Industry is sometimes recouped for a small price by extensive custom.
1887, George Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll, Scotland as it was and as it is1 more example
Elizabeth had lost her venture; but if she was bold, she might recoup herself at Philip's cost.
1856–1870, James Anthony Froude, History of England from the Fall of Wolsey to the Death of Elizabeth, volume (please specify |volume=I to XII), London: Longmans, Green, and Co., →OCLC
Synonyms & antonyms
verbTo make back (an investment or similar).
More synonyms by meaning
verbreimburse or compensate (someone), as for a loss
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Frenchrecouper“cut short”
- Englishrecoup
From French recouper (“cut short”).
More words from French
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Bulgarian възвръщам си, обезщетявам
- възвръщам си (văzvrăštam si)to make back, as an investment
- обезщетявам (obezštetjavam)to reimburse, indemnify
- компенсирам (kompensiram)to reimburse, indemnify
Czech získat zpět, vynahradit si
- získat zpětto make back, as an investment
- vynahradit sito make back, as an investment
- dostat nazpátekto make back, as an investment
Finnish saada takaisin, päästä omilleen
- saada takaisinto make back, as an investment
- päästä omilleento make back, as an investment
- toipuato recover from an error
- pidättääto keep back rightfully
Russian окупать
- окупать (okupatʹ)to make back, as an investment
Spanish recuperar
- recuperarto make back, as an investment
Tagalog uyanan, uyanan
- uyananto make back, as an investment
- uyananto reimburse, indemnify
Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
recoup. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/recoup
“recoup.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/recoup. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “recoup,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/recoup.
Source: recoup on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.