Recover means to get back something you lost or to return to a normal state after something difficult. When you recover from the flu, your body heals and you feel healthy again. When a gymnast recovers from a stumble during her routine, she regains her balance and continues. When you recover a lost phone, you find it and get it back.

The word appears in many situations. A patient recovers in the hospital after surgery. An economy recovers after a recession, growing strong again. A football team might recover from being behind at halftime to win the game. You might recover files from a broken computer, or recover your confidence after a disappointing performance.

Recovery takes time and effort. A broken bone doesn't heal instantly. A friendship doesn't recover overnight after a serious argument. The word recognizes that setbacks happen, but also suggests that getting back to normal (or even better than before) is possible.

Notice that recover focuses on return or restoration. You can't recover something you never had in the first place. You recover from an illness or difficulty, and you recover things that were lost or taken. The related noun is recovery: “Her recovery from the injury took three months.”