convalesce

IPA/ˌkɒnvəˈles/
KK[kˌɑnvəlˈɛs]IPA/ˌkɑːnvəˈles/

convalesce — verb

  • convalescepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • convalesceshe / she / it
  • convalescedpast simple
  • convalescing-ing form

1. to spend a period of time resting and slowly recovering your strength and health

1.動詞不及物C1
釋義

to spend a period of time resting and slowly recovering your strength and health after being ill, having surgery, or going through a difficult experience

例句

After her surgery, Linh spent two weeks convalescing at her aunt's house in the mountains.

convalesce + at [place] for location of recovery

The doctor told Sumin to convalesce after the infection and not rush back to work.

convalesce + after [event]

同義詞
  • recover

    more general and neutral; can be used for any kind of improvement, not just illness

  • recuperate

    slightly more formal than recover, often used in work or productivity contexts

  • get better

    informal, everyday equivalent; much more common in speech

反義詞
  • relapse

    to become ill again after starting to recover

  • deteriorate

    to become worse, the opposite of improving

文法句型

convalesce + from + [illness/operation/surgery]

convalesce + after + [event]

convalesce + at + [place]

用法筆記

Formal or literary register. In everyday conversation, speakers usually prefer 'recover' or 'get better'. Always intransitive — you cannot convalesce something.

常見錯誤

❌She convalesced the illness at home.
✅She convalesced from the illness at home.
💡convalesce is intransitive and cannot take a direct object.
❌I need to convalesce my strength after the flu.
✅I need to convalesce after the flu.
💡the verb already implies regaining strength; you do not convalesce a thing.