- to recover possession or ownership of by payment of a price or service; regain
- to convert (bonds, shares, etc) into cash
- to recover (something pledged, mortgaged, or pawned)
- to convert (paper money) into bullion or specie
- to fulfil (a promise, pledge, etc)
- to exchange (trading stamps, coupons, etc) for goods
- to reinstate in someone's estimation or good opinion; restore to favour: he redeemed himself by his altruistic action
- to make amends for
- (of Christ as Saviour) to free (humankind) from sin by his death on the Cross
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
re•deem /rɪˈdim/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object]
re•deem•er, n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to buy back, as after a tax sale or a mortgage foreclosure.
- to recover (something pledged or mortgaged) by payment or other satisfaction:She returned to the pawnbroker's to redeem her watch.
- Stock Exchange, Businessto exchange (bonds, trading stamps, etc.) for money or goods.
- to discharge or fulfill (a pledge, promise, etc.).
- Religionto set free or deliver (someone) from captivity, etc., by paying a penalty or ransom:paid a ransom to redeem the hostages.
- to make up for;
offset (some fault, shortcoming, etc.):After making that blunder, how will you redeem yourself?
re•deem•er, n. [countable]
re•deem
(ri dēm′),USA pronunciation v.t.
- to buy or pay off;
clear by payment:to redeem a mortgage. - to buy back, as after a tax sale or a mortgage foreclosure.
- to recover (something pledged or mortgaged) by payment or other satisfaction:to redeem a pawned watch.
- Stock Exchange, Businessto exchange (bonds, trading stamps, etc.) for money or goods.
- to convert (paper money) into specie.
- to discharge or fulfill (a pledge, promise, etc.).
- to make up for;
make amends for;
offset (some fault, shortcoming, etc.):His bravery redeemed his youthful idleness. - to obtain the release or restoration of, as from captivity, by paying a ransom.
- Religion[Theol.]to deliver from sin and its consequences by means of a sacrifice offered for the sinner.
- Latin redimere, equivalent. to red- red- + -imere, combining form of emere to purchase (compare emptor, ransom)
- Middle French redimer
- late Middle English redemen 1375–1425
- 1. -3. repurchase. Redeem, ransom both mean to buy back. Redeem is wider in its application than ransom, and means to buy back, regain possession of, or exchange for money, goods, etc.:to redeem one's property.To ransom is to redeem a person from captivity by paying a stipulated price, or to redeem from sin by sacrifice:to ransom a kidnapped child. 8. 9. free, liberate, rescue, save.
- 1. abandon.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
redeem /rɪˈdiːm/ vb (transitive)
'redeem' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
buy
- coupon
- foreclose
- irredentist
- ransom
- redemption
- save
- adeem
- closed-end investment company
- dégagé
- deliver
- equity of redemption
- irredeemable
- nonredeemable
- preredeem
- probation
- redeemable
- redeemer
- redeeming
- redemptive
- Redemptorist
- regenerate
- rescue
- retire
- Trinitarian
- unredeemable
- unredeeming
- vintage
- Sejm