1. To get back or regain in full or in equivalence (the landlord recovered higher operating costs by raising rent).
2. To obtain by a judgment or other legal process (the plaintiff recovered punitive damages in the lawsuit).
3. To obtain (a judgment) in one’s favor (the plaintiff recovered a judgment against the defendant).
4. To obtain damages or other relief; to succeed in a lawsuit or other legal proceeding (the defendant argued that the plaintiff should not be allowed to recover for his own negligence).