Recoup is a verb with a few related but distinct meanings. It can mean to get back something lost, to make up for a lossthe state of not having money, time, or something valuable, or to recoverget back something that was lost or taken away money by charging someone back or withholdingnot giving out money or payment that is due payment.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-30. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ri-KOOP/
Easy pronunciation: ree-KOOP (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the second syllable.
This is the verb meaning to get back something lost or make up for a loss.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-30. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Recoup Meaning
to recover what you lost, or to balance out a loss
Part of speech: verb
Definition: to get back something lost or to make up for a loss
Example: The company hopes to recoup its losses by the end of the year.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- recover — Works well when recoup means getting back something lost.
- recuperate — Can fit in some contexts, but it more often means recovering health or strength.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-30. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Recoup
Meaning 2
to keep back money instead of paying it out
Part of speech: verb
Definition: to retain money and not pay it out, especially by taking it from payments
Example: The landlord may recoup unpaid rent from the tenant’s deposit.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- deduct — Works when money is taken off an amount owed.
- withhold — Fits when payment is held back rather than given out.
Meaning 3
to reimburse someone for what they lost or spent
Part of speech: verb
Definition: to pay someone back for a loss or expense
Example: The insurer will recoup the customer for the damaged property.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- reimburse — A direct synonym in the sense of paying someone back.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-30. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Recoup Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- recover
- recuperate
to keep back money instead of paying it out
- deduct
- withhold
to pay someone back for a loss or expense
- reimburse
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-30. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Recoup does not usually mean simply to rest or get better, even though it can overlap with recover in some contexts.
- It is not the same as deduct in every situation; deduct is only correct when money is being taken off an amount due.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-30. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does recoup mean?
Recoup means to get back something lost, make up for a loss, or, in financial contexts, to reimburse someone or hold back money from a payment.
What are common synonyms for recoup?
Common synonyms include recover, reimburse, withhold, and deduct, depending on the sense.
Is recoup the same as recover?
Sometimes. Recover can work for the sense of getting back what was lost, but recoup is more specific and often used in financial or business contexts.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-30. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
