What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
convalesce
Example
After her surgery, she spent several weeks convalescing at home. [convalescing: verb]
Example
The doctor recommended a few days of convalescence before returning to work. [convalescence: noun]
recover
Example
It took him several months to recover from his injuries sustained in the accident. [recover: verb]
Example
The company was able to recover most of the stolen merchandise. [recover: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Recover is more commonly used than convalesce in everyday language. Recover is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while convalesce is less common and typically used in medical or formal contexts.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between convalesce and recover?
Convalesce is more formal and typically used in medical or academic contexts, while recover can be used in both formal and informal settings.