redeem
- Verb:
- To buy back or regain possession of something by paying a sum of money: This is the core financial meaning, often involving reclaiming something pledged as security for a loan.
- To fulfill or carry out a promise or pledge: To do what one has promised or is obligated to do.
- To atone for or offset the faults or bad aspects of something: To compensate for negative qualities or actions with positive ones.
- To save or rescue from a state of decline, error, or sin: Often used in religious or moral contexts to mean freeing someone from the consequences of sin or a flawed condition.
- To exchange a coupon, voucher, or token for money, goods, or services: To convert a certificate into its stated value.
- Verb:
- She went to the pawnshop to redeem her grandmother's ring. (Financial: buying back)
- The new manager finally redeemed his promise to increase salaries. (Fulfilling a pledge)
- The film's brilliant final act redeems its slow beginning. (Offsetting faults)
- Many believe that faith can redeem the human soul. (Saving from sin)
- You can redeem this coupon for a free coffee. (Exchanging a voucher)
"to redeem oneself": To do something to improve others' opinion of you after a failure or mistake.
- After the error, he worked hard to redeem himself in the eyes of his team.
"beyond/past redemption": So bad that it cannot be saved, improved, or corrected.
- The critics felt the character was beyond redemption.
Redeemable (adj): Capable of being redeemed, especially a financial instrument or voucher.
- This bond is redeemable after five years.
Redemption (n): The act of redeeming or the state of being redeemed.
- He sought redemption for his past actions.
Redeemer (n): One who redeems, especially a savior (often capitalized in Christian theology: the Redeemer).
- Recover: To get back or regain.
- Fulfill: To carry out or bring to completion.
- Atone: To make amends or reparation.
- Save: To rescue from harm or danger.
(Note: "Redeem" is not commonly used with particles to form phrasal verbs. Its meanings are typically expressed directly or with prepositions like "for" or "from.")
A redeeming feature/quality: A single good characteristic that makes something or someone somewhat acceptable despite other flaws.
- The hotel was noisy, but its redeeming feature was the stunning view.
Redeem the time: To use time wisely or productively, especially to make up for lost time.
- (Formal/Literary) She strove to redeem the time by studying diligently.
- convert into cash; of commercial papers
- pay off (loans or promissory notes)
- exchange or buy back for money; under threat
- to turn in (vouchers or coupons) and receive something in exchange
- restore the honor or worth of
- save from sins