Rescue or reclaim? Exploring "salvage" vs. "recover"

Reviewed and edited by

Lloyd Cooper 01/10/2024, 08:12

English.me team member

Salvage and recover. What's the difference?

What is similar?

Both words involve the act of retrieving or regaining possession of something.

What is different?

Salvage often implies saving something from further damage or loss, usually in a physical sense. Recover is broader and can refer to regaining something lost, including health or well-being.

Which one is more common?

Examples of usage

Salvage

They were able to salvage some items from the shipwreck.
Efforts to salvage the old building are underway.

Recover

She hopes to recover quickly from her surgery.
The police managed to recover the stolen goods.