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convalesce

verb
con·​va·​lesce | \ ËŒkän-vÉ™-ˈles How to pronounce convalesce (audio) \
convalesced; convalescing

Definition of convalesce

intransitive verb

: to recover health and strength gradually after sickness or weakness He is convalescing from influenza.
Other Words from convalesce Synonyms Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about convalesce

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Other Words from convalesce

convalescence \ ËŒkän-​vÉ™-​ˈle-​sᵊn(t)s How to pronounce convalescence (audio) \ noun
convalescent \ ËŒkän-​vÉ™-​ˈle-​sᵊnt How to pronounce convalescent (audio) \ adjective or noun

Synonyms for convalesce

Synonyms

come back, gain, heal, mend, pull round [chiefly British], rally, recoup, recover, recuperate, snap back

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Did You Know?

When you convalesce, you heal or grow strong after illness or injury, often by staying off your feet. (The related adjective convalescent means "recovering from sickness or debility," and a "convalescent home" is a hospital for long-term recuperation and rehabilitation.) The word convalesce derives from Latin, from the prefix com- ("with, together, jointly") and the verb "valescere" ("to grow strong"). "Valescere," in turn, is related to the verb "valēre" ("to be strong or be well"), which is also an ancestor of "prevail," "valor," "value," and "valid."

Examples of convalesce in a Sentence

He is convalescing from his leg injuries. the long months that the soldier spent in the hospital slowly convalescing

Recent Examples on the Web

 Clients may include the elderly and individuals who are temporarily ill, convalescing, disabled or home bound. — cleveland.com, "World War II era veteran offers insight into early women’s corps, military life: Olmsted Dates and Data," 12 Aug. 2019 Carlson was convalescing from wounds received during the Saipan campaign. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "From the Archives: FDR’s 1944 visit to San Diego was a military secret," 11 Aug. 2019 Also, more than 220 holiday food baskets were delivered to needy residents and families, and 934 subsidized meals went to some of the elderly, disabled and convalescing adults in Westlake, thanks to Meals on Wheels. — Carol Kovach, cleveland.com, "River Days, Bay Days offer summertime fun: West Shore Chatter," 2 July 2019 This includes the elderly and individuals who are temporarily ill, convalescing, disabled or home bound. — cleveland.com, "Local Meals on Wheels thrives on clients, volunteers, but seek more: Olmsted Dates and Data," 24 June 2019 Youth soccer team members rescued more than two weeks after sudden flooding trapped them in a cave complex in Thailand are now convalescing at a hospital in the northern city of Chiang Rai. — Dina Fine Maron, Scientific American, "Rescued Thai Boys Being Watched for Illnesses Caught from Cave Animals," 10 July 2018 Though convalescing from oral surgery and bouts with mental illness at Tucker’s Sanatorium in Richmond, Nell Lewis did not let this attack on academic freedom pass silently. — Longreads, "Nell Battle Lewis, Storyteller for Jim Crow," 25 May 2018 After being picked up and dusted off by Colossus (voiced by Stefan Kapicic) and Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand), Deadpool returns to the X-Mansion to convalesce. — Angela Watercutter, WIRED, "Deadpool 2 Is What All Sequels Should Be: Better Than Its Predecessor," 17 May 2018 Trump was preparing to depart the White House for the Walter Reed medical center, where is wife Melania is convalescing after a kidney procedure, when the initial statement warning against joint military exercises emerged on Tuesday afternoon. — Kevin Liptak, CNN, "White House scrambles to interpret North Korea summit threat," 16 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'convalesce.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of convalesce

15th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for convalesce

Latin convalescere, from com- + valescere to grow strong, from valēre to be strong, be well — more at wield

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More Definitions for convalesce

convalesce

verb
How to pronounce convalesce (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of convalesce

: to become healthy and strong again slowly over time after illness, weakness, or injury

See the full definition for convalesce in the English Language Learners Dictionary

convalesce

verb
con·​va·​lesce | \ ËŒkän-vÉ™-ˈles How to pronounce convalesce (audio) \
convalesced; convalescing

Kids Definition of convalesce

: to regain health and strength gradually after sickness or injury

convalesce

intransitive verb
con·​va·​lesce | \ ËŒkän-vÉ™-ˈles How to pronounce convalesce (audio) \
convalesced; convalescing

Medical Definition of convalesce

: to recover health and strength gradually after sickness or weakness

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More from Merriam-Webster on convalesce

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with convalesce

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for convalesce

Spanish Central: Translation of convalesce

Nglish: Translation of convalesce for Spanish Speakers

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