convalesce
verb
intransitive verb
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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. Convalesce derives from the Latin verb convalescere, which combines the prefix com- ("with, together, jointly") with 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.
Synonyms
- come back
- gain
- heal
- mend
- pull round [chiefly British]
- rally
- recoup
- recover
- recuperate
- snap back
Example Sentences
Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2022 Twenty critically endangered juvenile Kemp’s ridley sea turtles were flown from New England to the subtropical Florida Keys to convalesce at the Marathon Turtle Hospital after being rescued from Cape Cod Bay’s frigid coastal waters. orlandosentinel.com, 11 Dec. 2021 The rich with mild cases can convalesce at expensive hotels. New York Times, 5 June 2021 The rich with mild cases can convalesce at expensive hotels. New York Times, 5 June 2021 The rich with mild cases can convalesce at expensive hotels. New York Times, 5 June 2021 The rich with mild cases can convalesce at expensive hotels. New York Times, 5 June 2021 The rich with mild cases can convalesce at expensive hotels. New York Times, 5 June 2021 Finally, Tanajara was forced to leave the training facility in Riverside, California, and return to San Antonio to convalesce. John Whisler, San Antonio Express-News, 8 July 2021 See More Word History
Latin convalescere, from com- + valescere to grow strong, from valēre to be strong, be well — more at wield
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
convalesce
verb
Medical Definition
convalesce
intransitive verb
convalescing 1 of 2
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- recuperating
- recovering
- improved
- better
- mending
- rehabilitated
- cured
- hardy
- stalwart
- well
- lusty
- conditioned
- hearty
- robust
- tough
- fit
- able-bodied
- blooming
- chipper
- thriving
- bouncing
- flourishing
- hale
- healthful
- well-conditioned
- strong
- rugged
- whole
- healthy
- wholesome
- sound
- flush
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- sick
- ill
- ailing
- indisposed
- unwell
- poorly
- bad
- sickened
- down
- unhealthy
- unsound
- peaked
- symptomatic
- peaky
- punk
- run-down
- sickish
- lousy
- seedy
- cruddy
convalescing
2 of 2verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- recovering
- recuperating
- healing
- improving
- recouping
- rallying
- coming back
- snapping back
- gaining
- mending
- surviving
- pulling round
- reviving
- coming to
- coming around
- coming round
- recruiting
- pulling through
- picking up
- cheering (up)
- perking (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- ailing
- collapsing
- deteriorating
- declining
- languishing
- failing
- sickening
- worsening
- weakening
- sinking
- fading
- degenerating
- wilting
- wasting (away)
- withering
- relapsing
- coming down
- regressing