redeem means to recover ownership of something by buying it back. It carries an Arena rating of 1511, earned across 6 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, redeem ranks #2,350 of 14,448 for Most Incisive Words, #2,351 of 14,308 for Most Malleable Words, #7,082 of 14,423 for Most Sublime Words, #7,084 of 14,414 for Most Elegant Words.
redeem is pronounced /ɹɪˈdiːm/.
Why “redeem” is a great word
To buy back or reclaim something lost, or to release someone from a burden or fallen state, usually through payment or compensatory effort. From Middle English *redemen*, from Old French *redimer*, from Latin *redimō* ("to buy back, release"), from *red-* ("back, again") + *emō* ("to buy, take"). Unlike "abandon" (which is to forsake utterly) or "rescue" (which pulls one from imminent peril), to redeem is to settle a debt, to exchange value for value in a ledger both financial and moral. It is the careful unfolding of a crumpled banknote across a dusty counter to reclaim a grandmother's ring; the slow, grinding labor of a life lived backward, undoing damage acre by acre; the quiet hope that enough good acts might outweigh the weight of earlier failures. It is the solemn belief that nothing is irrecoverably lost if one can pay the price.
Etymology
From Middle English redemen, modified from Old French redimer, from Latin redimō (“release; obviate; atone for”), itself from red- (“back; again”) + emō (“buy; gain, take, procure”).
verb
- To recover ownership of something by buying it back.
- To liberate by payment of a ransom.
- To set free by force.“Your Highneſſe needs not doubt but in ſhort time,
He will with Tamburlaines deſtruction
Redeeme you from this deadly ſeruitude.”
- To save, rescue.
- To clear, release from debt or blame.
- To expiate, atone (for).
- To convert (some bond or security) into cash.
- To save from a state of sin (and from its consequences).
- To repair, restore.
- To reform, change (for the better).
- To restore the honour, worth, or reputation of oneself or something.
- To reclaim.
Words closest in meaning
By meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.
- redemption 93% match — The act of redeeming or something redeemed. vs redeem →
- ransom 89% match — Money paid for the freeing of a hostage. vs redeem →
- redeemer 89% match — One who redeems; one who provides redemption. vs redeem →
- redemptor 87% match — One who redeems (especially used of Jesus). vs redeem →
- redemptionary 87% match — One who is, or may be, redeemed; one who is set at liberty, or released from a bond, by paying compensation or fulfilling stipulated conditions. vs redeem →
- recompense 85% match — An equivalent returned for anything given, done, or suffered; compensation; reward; amends; requital. vs redeem →
- forbuy 85% match — To buy off; ransom; redeem (from sin, hell, etc.). vs redeem →
- rehabilitate 85% match — To restore (someone) to their former state, reputation, possessions, status etc. vs redeem →