What does "recompense" mean?
An equivalent returned for anything given, done, or suffered; compensation; reward; amends; requital.
Recompense
/ˈɹɛkəmˌpɛns/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An equivalent returned for anything given, done, or suffered; compensation; reward; amends; requital.
- Grammar: recompense is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: compensation, accord, allowance, amend.
- Useful contrasts: blame, deprivation, forfeit.
- Usage evidence: "Thou, who alone Troy's sorrows deign'st to hear, / and us, the gleanings of the Danaan spear, / poor world-wide wanderers and in desperate case, / has ta'en to share thy city and thy cheer, / meet thanks nor we, nor what of Dardan race / yet roams the earth, can give to recompense thy grace."
How to use "recompense"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "recompense" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "recompense" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "recompense" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "recompense" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "recompense" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "compensation" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "recompense", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An equivalent returned for anything given, done, or suffered; compensation; reward; amends; requital. countable, uncountable
- 2 the act of compensating for service or loss or injury wordnet
- 3 That which compensates for an injury, or other type of harm or damage. countable, uncountable
"He offered money as recompense for the damage, but what the injured party wanted was an apology."
- 4 payment or reward (as for service rendered) wordnet
Verb
- 1 To reward or repay (someone) for something done, given etc.
"She in regard thereof him recompenst / With golden words, and goodly countenance, / And such fond fauours sparingly dispenst […]"
- 2 make payment to; compensate wordnet
- 3 To give compensation for an injury, or other type of harm or damage.
"The judge ordered the defendant to recompense the plaintiff by paying $100."
- 4 make amends for; pay compensation for wordnet
- 5 To give (something) in return; to pay back; to pay, as something earned or deserved. transitive
"Recompense to no man evil for evil."
Antonyms
Example
""Thou, who alone Troy's sorrows deign'st to hear, / and us, the gleanings of the Danaan spear, / poor world-wide wanderers and in desperate case, / has ta'en to share thy city and thy cheer, / meet thanks nor we, nor what of Dardan race / yet roams the earth, can give to recompense thy grace.""
Common questions
What is a synonym for "recompense"?
Common synonyms include: compensation, accord, allowance, amend, amend, amends.
How do you use "recompense" in a sentence?
"Thou, who alone Troy's sorrows deign'st to hear, / and us, the gleanings of the Danaan spear, / poor world-wide wanderers and in desperate case, / has ta'en to share thy city and thy cheer, / meet thanks nor we, nor what of Dardan race / yet roams the earth, can give to recompense thy grace."
How do you pronounce "recompense"?
Pronounced /ˈɹɛkəmˌpɛns/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English recompense, borrowed from Old French recompense or Medieval Latin recompensa.
Etymology 2
From Middle English recompensen, borrowed from Old French recompenser, from Late Latin recompensare, from Latin re- (“again”) + compensare (“to balance out”).