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redeem

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redeem

  • /ɹɪˈdiːm/

Rhymes with -iːm

Where it comes from

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 redeems · redeeming · redeemed

  1. transitive To recover ownership of something by buying it back.

    Similar: buy back, repurchase

  2. transitive To liberate by payment of a ransom.
  3. transitive 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.
  4. transitive To save, rescue.
  5. transitive To clear, release from debt or blame.
  6. transitive To expiate, atone (for).
  7. transitive To convert (some bond or security) into cash.
  8. transitive To save from a state of sin (and from its consequences).
  9. transitive To repair, restore.
  10. transitive To reform, change (for the better).
  11. transitive To restore the honour, worth, or reputation of oneself or something.
  12. archaic, transitive To reclaim.

Opposite: abandon

Thesaurus

Closest in meaning: save, ransom, pay off, deliver, refund, repurchase, restore, repay, reimburse, rescue, spend, atone, exchange, buy, sell, purchase

verb

Opposite: abandon

Translations

Every language

verb to restore the reputation, honour of ...

Españolredimir
日本語回復する kaifuku-suru
Portuguêsredimir
Françaisracheter
Deutsch(Ruf) wiederherstellen
Русскийобеля́ть obeljátʹ, обели́ть obelítʹ

verb to recover ownership of something by paying a sum

Españolredimir
日本語買い戻す kai-modosu
中文赎回 shúhuí
Portuguêsresgatar, redimir
Françaisracheter
Deutschzurückkaufen
Русскийвыкупа́ть vykupátʹ, вы́купить výkupitʹ

verb to liberate by payment of ransom

Deutschloslösen, freikaufen
Русскийвыкупа́ть vykupátʹ, вы́купить výkupitʹ

verb to set free by force

Portuguêslibertar
Françaislibérer
Deutschbefreien

verb to save, rescue, recover

Portuguêsresgatar
Françaissecourir
Deutschbefreien
Ελληνικάεξαγοράζω exagorázo
Tiếng Việtcứu chuộc, chuộc

verb to clear, release from debt or blame

Españolredimir
Portuguêsredimir
Françaislibérer, soulager

verb to expiate, atone for

Españolredimirse
Portuguêsredimir-se

verb to convert into cash

Españolcanjear
Françaisliquider
Deutscheinlösen
Italianoriscattare
Ελληνικάεξαργυρώνω exargyróno
Русскийобнали́чивать obnalíčivatʹ

verb to save from a state of sin

Españolredimir
日本語あがなう aganau
Portuguêsredimir
Deutscherlösen
Italianoredimere
Русскийискупа́ть iskupátʹ, искупи́ть iskupítʹ
עבריתגָּאַל ga'ál

verb to repair, restore

Françaisréparer, rétablir
Deutschwiederherstellen

verb to change for the better, reform

Françaisaméliorer, réformer
Deutschverbessern
Русскийулучша́ться ulučšátʹsja, улу́чшиться ulúčšitʹsja

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MLA

"redeem." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/redeem. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

redeem. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/redeem

Chicago

"redeem." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/redeem.

BibTeX
@misc{redeem_2026,
  title = {redeem},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/redeem},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}