recapture
recapture — verb
- recapturepresent simple I / you / we / they
- recaptures3rd person singular
- recapturing-ing form
- recapturedpast simple
1. to get back control of a place or thing that an enemy or opponent had taken away
to get back control of a place or thing that an enemy or opponent had taken away, especially by using military power or physical strength
Government troops recaptured the town after three days of heavy fighting.
recapture + place (town, city, territory)
The goalkeeper lunged forward and recaptured the ball just before it crossed the line.
Naval forces recaptured the cargo ship that pirates had seized near the coast of Somalia.
Rebel fighters recaptured the mountain stronghold during a surprise night attack.
The army recaptured the border checkpoint without losing a single soldier.
文法句型
recapture + noun phrase
用法筆記
The object is typically a place (town, fortress, territory) or a thing of strategic value (ship, checkpoint). Not used for everyday retrieval of personal items — for those, use "get back" or "retrieve."
常見錯誤
2. to make a feeling, memory, or quality from the past return, or to have that feel
to make a feeling, memory, or quality from the past return, or to have that feeling come back to you — for example, recapturing the joyful atmosphere of a childhood celebration, or a filmmaker recapturing the mood of a bygone era
The old photograph recaptured the happiness of their wedding day.
recapture + emotion (happiness, excitement, joy)
The fashion designer recaptured the elegance of 1950s Paris with her new collection.
recapture + style/quality (elegance, mood, atmosphere)
In the empty classroom, Lauren tried to recapture the excitement of her first school day.
The film recaptured the tense mood of the Cold War era through its black-and-white scenes.
Walking through the old village, Felipe recaptured the carefree feeling of his childhood summers.
文法句型
recapture + feeling/memory/atmosphere/style
用法筆記
Often used in literary, descriptive, or nostalgic contexts. The subject is usually an experience, a place, a creative work, or the person who is trying to relive a memory. It is less common in everyday spoken English.
常見錯誤
recapture — noun
1. the act of successfully regaining control of a territory, position, or title tha
the act of successfully regaining control of a territory, position, or title that an opponent had taken away from you
The recapture of the city marked a turning point in the war.
the recapture of + [place]
The team's recapture of the championship trophy surprised all the sports reporters.
After months of careful planning, the recapture of the besieged fortress was finally achieved.
Liang celebrated the recapture of three key trading routes from enemy forces.
Historians view the recapture of the canal as a key battle of the decade.
- retaking
very close in meaning; "recapture" is slightly more formal
- recovery
broader; suggests the process of getting something back by any means, not just force
- reclamation
implies a rightful claim, often in legal or environmental contexts
文法句型
the recapture of + noun phrase
用法筆記
Typically used in military, political, or competitive contexts. The preposition "from" commonly follows to specify the opponent (e.g., "recapture of the town from the rebels").
2. the act of tracking down and securing a fugitive or animal that has successfully
the act of tracking down and securing a fugitive or animal that has successfully gotten away from confinement
The recapture of the escaped lion took the zookeepers nearly three hours.
recapture of + [escaped animal]
Police officers coordinated the recapture of the prisoner who had fled the courthouse.
recapture of + [escaped person]
The recapture of the runaway dog made the front page of the local newspaper.
A reward was offered for information leading to the recapture of the stolen racehorse.
The documentary followed the team's efforts to ensure the recapture of every illegally traded parrot.
文法句型
the recapture of + person/animal
用法筆記
Commonly appears in news reports about escaped prisoners, zoo animals, or farm animals that have wandered off. Often paired with "escaped" or "runaway."
3. a legal process by which a government or regulatory body takes back a portion of
a legal process by which a government or regulatory body takes back a portion of profits, earnings, or tax benefits that exceed a legally permitted amount
The oil company faced a government recapture of eighty million dollars in excess profits.
recapture of + [amount] + in + [profit type]
Tax lawyers advised the corporation on how to minimize its exposure to profit recapture.
The new law permits the recapture of subsidies if the company misses its job targets.
Recapture provisions in the government contract prevented developers from making unfairly large gains.
The court upheld the recapture of funds that had been obtained through the overpriced contract.
文法句型
recapture of + noun phrase
用法筆記
A technical legal and financial term. Most common in US tax law, government contracting, and regulatory contexts. Less common in everyday British English.