What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
rescue
Example
The firefighters rescued the cat from the burning building. [rescued: past tense]
Example
The lifeguard rescued the drowning swimmer from the ocean. [rescue: verb]
recover
Example
The police were able to recover the stolen jewelry from the thief. [recover: verb]
Example
It took several weeks for her to recover from the flu. [recover: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Recover is more commonly used than rescue in everyday language. Recover is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while rescue is less common and often associated with emergency situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between rescue and recover?
Both rescue and recover can be used in formal and informal contexts, but rescue may be more commonly used in emergency or crisis situations, which tend to be more informal.
