recoup
C1formal to neutral, common in business and financial contexts.
Definition
Meaning
To get back or recover something lost, especially money.
To regain or make up for losses, expenses, or investments; to compensate oneself.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used for financial/material recovery, but can be extended metaphorically to non-material domains (e.g., time, effort). Implies a previous outlay or loss.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning or usage. Slightly more common in American legal and business contexts.
Connotations
Neutral; implies a legitimate or expected recovery.
Frequency
Higher frequency in American English in financial and legal texts; similar frequency in British English in business contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
recoup something (from someone/something)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “recoup one's losses”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The company hopes to recoup its initial outlay within three years.
Academic
The study aimed to recoup data lost in the initial phase of the experiment.
Everyday
We'll need to sell a lot of cakes to recoup what we spent on ingredients.
Technical
The plaintiff sought to recoup legal fees from the defendant.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They managed to recoup their losses through a shrewd investment.
- The film failed to recoup its production costs at the UK box office.
American English
- The lawsuit allowed her to recoup her medical expenses.
- It will take years to recoup the capital invested in the startup.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The company wants to recoup its money.
- Can we recoup the cost of the tickets?
- Investors are unsure if the project will recoup its enormous initial investment.
- He sold his shares to recoup some of his losses.
- The new efficiency measures are designed to recoup wasted administrative time.
- The insurer sought to recoup the settlement amount from the negligent third party.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: RE (again) + COUP (like a coup, a sudden taking of power). To 'recoup' is to 'take back again' what was yours.
Conceptual Metaphor
FINANCIAL LOSS IS A PHYSICAL DEPLETION; RECOUPING IS REFILLING/RECOVERING THE LOSS.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'компенсировать' (compensate) when the focus is on *getting back* what was lost, not just making up for it. 'Возместить убытки' or 'окупить расходы' are closer.
Common Mistakes
- Using it without an object (e.g., 'We need to recoup' is incomplete). Confusing with 'recoupe' (misspelling). Using it for gaining something new, not recovering something lost.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best captures the meaning of 'recoup'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily, yes, but it can be used metaphorically for non-material things like time, effort, or losses in a game.
'Recoup' is often financial/business-oriented and implies recovering an equivalent of what was spent/lost. 'Recover' is more general (health, objects). 'Regain' often relates to abstract qualities (confidence, strength).
No, it is a transitive verb and requires an object (e.g., costs, losses).
It is neutral to formal. Common in business, finance, and legal contexts, but can be used in everyday situations discussing money.