Charge vs. Recharge — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Urooj Arif — Updated on April 14, 2024
Charge refers to supplying power to a battery or applying electrical energy, while recharge specifically means restoring the power in a previously charged battery.
Difference Between Charge and Recharge
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Charge is the process of adding electrical energy to a battery, enabling it to provide power to electronic devices. On the other hand, recharge involves replenishing the stored energy in a battery that has been depleted through usage. This distinction highlights the initial energizing versus restoring energy.
When you charge a device, such as a smartphone or laptop for the first time or after replacing its battery, you're powering it from zero capacity or from a new energy source. Whereas, recharging implies that the device has been powered before and its existing battery is simply being topped up with power.
Charging can also refer to accumulating or imposing financial costs or responsibilities, as in charging someone for a service. Recharge, however, is rarely used in financial contexts and is predominantly associated with restoring energy or vitality, either in batteries or in oneself, as in taking a break to recharge one's own energy.
Technologically, charging systems may vary based on the device and battery type, requiring specific chargers or charging conditions. Recharging, meanwhile, often involves specific cycles and methods tailored to maximize battery life and efficiency, such as using a charger compatible with the device’s battery type.
Environmental and practical implications also differ; charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, for instance, is critical for their adoption and use, needing widespread and accessible charging stations. Recharging these vehicles plays into broader considerations like the time it takes and the availability of rapid-charging stations.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Supplying power to a battery
Restoring power to a depleted battery
Usage Context
First time or with a new battery
Used with batteries that were charged before
Additional Meanings
Imposing costs, responsibilities
Refreshing oneself or one's energy
Technological Needs
Specific chargers, initial setup
Compatible chargers, cycle management
Environmental Impact
Infrastructure for initial use
Efficiency and sustainability of reusing
Compare with Definitions
Charge
To set an explosive device to explode.
The demolition team charged the building with explosives.
Recharge
To refill a container with new material.
He recharged the air conditioner with coolant.
Charge
To energize a battery by supplying it with electrical power.
I need to charge my phone; it’s almost dead.
Recharge
To regain energy or spirit.
I need a vacation to recharge.
Charge
To impose a duty, responsibility, or payment on.
The restaurant charges a corkage fee for outside wine.
Recharge
To restore electrical energy to a battery.
I recharge my laptop every night.
Charge
To accuse formally or legally.
She was charged with embezzlement.
Recharge
To make a new charge or accusation.
The prosecutor decided to recharge the suspect with additional offenses.
Charge
To rush forward in an attack.
The battalion charged the enemy lines.
Recharge
To renew or rejuvenate oneself or something.
The retreat was a great way to recharge our team’s morale.
Charge
Demand (an amount) as a price for a service rendered or goods supplied
He charged me five dollars for the wine
Wedding planners may charge an hourly fee of up to £150
Recharge
To charge again, especially to reenergize a storage battery.
Charge
Formally accuse (someone) of something, especially an offence under law
They were charged with assault
Recharge
(transitive) To charge an electric battery after its power has been consumed.
Charge
Entrust (someone) with a task as a duty or responsibility
The committee was charged with reshaping the educational system
Recharge
(intransitive) To invigorate and revitalize one's energy level by removing stressful agents for a period of time.
Charge
Store electrical energy in (a battery or battery-operated device)
The shaver can be charged up and used while travelling
Recharge
(transitive) To reload a gun with ammunition.
Charge
Rush forward in attack
The plan is to charge headlong at the enemy
Recharge
(transitive) To add or restore water to an aquifer.
Charge
Place a heraldic bearing on
A pennant argent, charged with a cross gules
Recharge
(transitive) To request payment again from.
Charge
A price asked for goods or services
Our standard charge for a letter is £25
Recharge
To charge or accuse in return.
Charge
An accusation, typically one formally made against a prisoner brought to trial
He appeared in court on a charge of attempted murder
Recharge
To attack again or anew.
Charge
Responsibility for the care or control of someone or something
The people in her charge are pupils and not experimental subjects
Recharge
(uncountable) Water that has percolated from the ground surface to an aquifer.
Charge
The property of matter that is responsible for electrical phenomena, existing in a positive or negative form.
Recharge
(countable) The process of charging (an electrical device) again.
My phone has needed five recharges in the last month.
Charge
A quantity of explosive to be detonated in order to fire a gun or similar weapon
Smaller charges, fired on three minute fuses lit by hand
Recharge
To charge or accuse in return.
Charge
A headlong rush forward, typically in attack
A cavalry charge
Recharge
To attack again; to attack anew.
Charge
A device or bearing placed on a shield or crest.
Recharge
Load anew with ammunition,
She reloaded the gun carefully
Charge
To impose a duty, responsibility, or obligation on
Charged him with the task of watching the young swimmers.
Recharge
Charge anew;
Recharge a battery
Charge
To instruct or urge authoritatively; command
Charged her not to reveal the source of information.
Charge
(Law) To instruct (a jury) about the law, its application, and the weighing of evidence.
Charge
To set or ask (a given amount) as a price
Charges ten dollars for a haircut.
Charge
To hold financially liable; demand payment from
Charged her for the balance due.
Charge
To purchase on credit
Paid cash for the stockings but charged the new coat.
Charge
To load to capacity; fill
Charge a furnace with coal.
Charge
To load (a gun or other firearm) with a quantity of explosive
Charged the musket with powder.
Charge
To pervade or fill, as with a feeling or quality
The atmosphere was charged with tension.
Charge
To make a claim of wrongdoing against; accuse or blame
The prosecutors charged him with car theft. Critics charged the writer with a lack of originality.
Charge
To put the blame for; attribute or impute
Charged the accident to the driver's inexperience.
Charge
To rush against in an attack
The troops charged the enemy line.
Charge
(Basketball) To bump or run into (a defender) illegally while in possession of the ball or having just made a pass or shot.
Charge
(Sports) To bump (an opponent) so as to knock off balance or gain control of the ball, as in soccer.
Charge
(Sports) To body-check (an opponent) illegally, from behind or after taking more than two strides, especially in ice hockey.
Charge
To cause formation of a net electric charge on or in (a conductor, for example).
Charge
To energize (a storage battery) by passing current through it in the direction opposite to discharge.
Charge
To excite; rouse
A speaker who knows how to charge up a crowd.
Charge
To direct or put (a weapon) into position for use; level or direct.
Charge
(Heraldry) To place a charge on (an escutcheon).
Charge
To rush forward in an attack
The dog charged at the intruder.
Charge
To rush forward; run
Children charging around the house.
Charge
To demand or ask payment
Did not charge for the second cup of coffee.
Charge
To make a purchase or purchases on credit.
Charge
(Accounting) To consider or record as a loss. Often used with off.
Charge
To become energized
The battery is still charging.
Charge
Expense; cost
Added to the bill a charge for replacing the thermostat.
Charge
The price asked for something
What's the charge for a new tire?.
Charge
A debt or an entry in an account recording a debt
Are you paying cash or is this a charge?.
Charge
A financial burden, such as a tax or lien.
Charge
A weight or burden; a load
A freighter relieved of its charge of cargo.
Charge
The quantity that a container or apparatus can hold.
Charge
A quantity of explosive to be set off at one time.
Charge
An assigned duty or task; a responsibility
The commission's charge was to determine the facts.
Charge
Care; custody
A child put in my charge.
Charge
Supervision; management
The scientist who had overall charge of the research project.
Charge
One that is entrusted to another's care or management
The baby sitter's three young charges.
Charge
An order, command, or injunction.
Charge
Instruction given by a judge to a jury about the law, its application, and the weighing of evidence.
Charge
A claim of wrongdoing; an accusation
A charge of murder.
Pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Charge
A rushing, forceful attack
Repelled the charge of enemy troops.
The charge of a herd of elephants.
Charge
The command to attack
The bugler sounded the charge.
Charge
The intrinsic property of matter responsible for all electric phenomena, in particular for the electromagnetic force, occurring in two forms arbitrarily designated negative and positive.
Charge
The net measure of this property possessed by a body or contained in a bounded region of space, measured in coulombs, ampere-hours, or units of elementary charge. Also called electric charge.
Charge
See magnetic charge.
Charge
See color charge.
Charge
(Informal) A feeling of pleasant excitement; a thrill
Got a real charge out of the movie.
Charge
(Heraldry) A figure or device represented on the field of an escutcheon.
Charge
The amount of money levied for a service.
There will be a charge of five dollars.
Charge
(military) A ground attack against a prepared enemy.
Charge
A forceful forward movement.
Charge
An accusation.
Charge
An official description (by the police or a court) of a crime that somebody may be guilty of.
Two charges of manslaughter
Charge
An accusation by a person or organization.
That's a slanderous charge of abuse of trust.
Charge
An electric charge.
Charge
The scope of someone's responsibility.
The child was in the nanny's charge.
Charge
Someone or something entrusted to one's care, such as a child to a babysitter or a student to a teacher.
The child was a charge of the nanny.
Charge
A load or burden; cargo.
The ship had a charge of colonists and their belongings.
Charge
An instruction.
I gave him the charge to get the deal closed by the end of the month.
Charge
(basketball) An offensive foul in which the player with the ball moves into a stationary defender.
Charge
(firearms) A measured amount of powder and/or shot in a cartridge.
Charge
(by extension) A measured amount of explosive.
Charge
(heraldry) An image displayed on an escutcheon.
Charge
(weaponry) A position (of a weapon) fitted for attack.
To bring a weapon to the charge
Charge
(farriery) A sort of plaster or ointment.
Charge
(obsolete) Weight; import; value.
Charge
A measure of thirty-six pigs of lead, each pig weighing about seventy pounds; a charre.
Charge
(ecclesiastical) An address given at a church service concluding a visitation.
Charge
To assign a duty or responsibility to.
Charge
(transitive) To assign (a debit) to an account.
Let's charge this to marketing.
Charge
(transitive) To pay on account, as by using a credit card.
Can I charge my purchase to my credit card?
Can I charge this purchase?
Charge
(ambitransitive) To require payment (of) (a price or fee, for goods, services, etc.).
To charge high for goods
I won't charge you for the wheat.
Charge
(dated) To sell at a given price.
To charge coal at $5 per unit
Charge
(law) To formally accuse (a person) of a crime.
I'm charging you with assault and battery.
Charge
To impute or ascribe.
Charge
To call to account; to challenge.
Charge
(transitive) To place a burden, load or responsibility on or in.
Charge
To ornament with or cause to bear.
To charge an architectural member with a moulding
Charge
(heraldry) To assume as a bearing.
He charges three roses.
Charge
(heraldry) To add to or represent on.
He charges his shield with three roses or.
Charge
(transitive) To load equipment with material required for its use, as a firearm with powder, a fire hose with water, a chemical reactor with raw materials.
Charge your weapons; we're moving up.
Charge
(transitive) To cause to take on an electric charge.
Rubbing amber with wool will charge it quickly.
Charge
(transitive) To replenish energy to (a battery, or a device containing a battery) by use of an electrical device plugged into a power outlet.
He charged the battery overnight.
Don't forget to charge the drill.
I charge my phone every night.
Charge
To replenish energy.
The battery is still charging: I can't use it yet.
His cell phone charges very quickly, whereas mine takes forever.
Charge
(intransitive) To move forward quickly and forcefully, particularly in combat and/or on horseback.
Charge
To attack by moving forward quickly in a group.
The impetuous corps charged the enemy lines.
Charge
(basketball) To commit a charging foul.
Charge
To take a few steps down the pitch towards the bowler as they deliver the ball, either to disrupt the length of the delivery, or to get into a better position to hit the ball.
Charge
To lie on the belly and be still. A command given by a hunter to a dog
Charge
To lay on or impose, as a load, tax, or burden; to load; to fill.
A carte that charged was with hay.
The charging of children's memories with rules.
Charge
To lay on or impose, as a task, duty, or trust; to command, instruct, or exhort with authority; to enjoin; to urge earnestly; as, to charge a jury; to charge the clergy of a diocese; to charge an agent.
Moses . . . charged you to love the Lord your God.
Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away ambition.
Charge
To lay on, impose, or make subject to or liable for.
When land shall be charged by any lien.
Charge
To fix or demand as a price; as, he charges two dollars a barrel for apples.
Charge
To place something to the account of as a debt; to debit, as, to charge one with goods. Also, to enter upon the debit side of an account; as, to charge a sum to one.
Charge
To impute or ascribe; to lay to one's charge.
No more accuse thy pen, but charge the crimeOn native sloth and negligence of time.
Charge
To accuse; to make a charge or assertion against (a person or thing); to lay the responsibility (for something said or done) at the door of.
If he did that wrong you charge him with.
Charge
To place within or upon any firearm, piece of apparatus or machinery, the quantity it is intended and fitted to hold or bear; to load; to fill; as, to charge a gun; to charge an electrical machine, etc.
Their battering cannon charged to the mouths.
Charge
To ornament with or cause to bear; as, to charge an architectural member with a molding.
Charge
To assume as a bearing; as, he charges three roses or; to add to or represent on; as, he charges his shield with three roses or.
Charge
To call to account; to challenge.
To charge me to an answer.
Charge
To bear down upon; to rush upon; to attack.
Charged our main battle's front.
Charge
To make an onset or rush; as, to charge with fixed bayonets.
Like your heroes of antiquity, he charges in iron.
"Charge for the guns!" he said.
Charge
To demand a price; as, to charge high for goods.
Charge
To debit on an account; as, to charge for purchases.
Charge
To squat on its belly and be still; - a command given by a sportsman to a dog.
Charge
A load or burder laid upon a person or thing.
Charge
A person or thing commited or intrusted to the care, custody, or management of another; a trust.
Charge
Custody or care of any person, thing, or place; office; responsibility; oversight; obigation; duty.
'Tis a great charge to come under one body's hand.
Charge
Heed; care; anxiety; trouble.
Charge
Harm.
Charge
An order; a mandate or command; an injunction.
The king gave cherge concerning Absalom.
Charge
An address (esp. an earnest or impressive address) containing instruction or exhortation; as, the charge of a judge to a jury; the charge of a bishop to his clergy.
Charge
An accusation of a wrong of offense; allegation; indictment; specification of something alleged.
The charge of confounding very different classes of phenomena.
Charge
Whatever constitutes a burden on property, as rents, taxes, lines, etc.; costs; expense incurred; - usually in the plural.
Charge
The price demanded for a thing or service.
Charge
An entry or a account of that which is due from one party to another; that which is debited in a business transaction; as, a charge in an account book.
Charge
That quantity, as of ammunition, electricity, ore, fuel, etc., which any apparatus, as a gun, battery, furnace, machine, etc., is intended to receive and fitted to hold, or which is actually in it at one time
Charge
The act of rushing upon, or towards, an enemy; a sudden onset or attack, as of troops, esp. cavalry; hence, the signal for attack; as, to sound the charge.
Never, in any other war afore, gave the Romans a hotter charge upon the enemies.
The charge of the light brigade.
Charge
A position (of a weapon) fitted for attack; as, to bring a weapon to the charge.
Charge
A sort of plaster or ointment.
Charge
Thirty-six pigs of lead, each pig weighing about seventy pounds; - called also charre.
Charge
Weight; import; value.
Many suchlike "as's" of great charge.
Charge
(criminal law) a pleading describing some wrong or offense;
He was arrested on a charge of larceny
Charge
The price charged for some article or service;
The admission charge
Charge
An assertion that someone is guilty of a fault or offence;
The newspaper published charges that Jones was guilty of drunken driving
Charge
Request for payment of a debt;
They submitted their charges at the end of each month
Charge
A impetuous rush toward someone or something;
The wrestler's charge carried him past his adversary
The battle began with a cavalry charge
Charge
The quantity of unbalanced electricity in a body (either positive or negative) and construed as an excess or deficiency of electrons;
The battery needed a fresh charge
Charge
Financial liabilities (such as a tax);
The charges against the estate
Charge
A person committed to your care;
The teacher led her charges across the street
Charge
Attention and management implying responsibility for safety;
He is in the care of a bodyguard
Charge
A special assignment that is given to a person or group;
A confidential mission to London
His charge was deliver a message
Charge
A formal statement of a command or injunction to do something;
The judge's charge to the jury
Charge
A quantity of explosive to be set off at one time;
This cartridge has a powder charge of 50 grains
Charge
The swift release of a store of affective force;
They got a great bang out of it
What a boot!
He got a quick rush from injecting heroin
He does it for kicks
Charge
(psychoanalysis) the libidinal energy invested in some idea or person or object;
Freud thought of cathexis as a psychic analog of an electrical charge
Charge
Heraldry consisting of a design or image depicted on a shield
Charge
To make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle;
He saw Jess charging at him with a pitchfork
Charge
Blame for, make a claim of wrongdoing or misbehavior against;
He charged me director with indifference
Charge
Demand payment;
Will I get charged for this service?
We were billed for 4 nights in the hotel, although we stayed only 3 nights
Charge
Move quickly and violently;
The car tore down the street
He came charging into my office
Charge
Assign a duty, responsibility or obligation to;
He was appointed deputy manager
She was charged with supervising the creation of a concordance
Charge
File a formal charge against;
The suspect was charged with murdering his wife
Charge
Make an accusatory claim;
The defense attorney charged that the jurors were biased
Charge
Fill or load to capacity;
Charge the wagon with hay
Charge
Enter a certain amount as a charge;
He charged me $15
Charge
Cause to be admitted; of persons to an institution;
After the second episode, she had to be committed
He was committed to prison
Charge
Give over to another for care or safekeeping;
Consign your baggage
Charge
Pay with a credit card; pay with plastic money; postpone payment by recording a purchase as a debt;
Will you pay cash or charge the purchase?
Charge
Lie down on command, of hunting dogs
Charge
Cause to be agitated, excited, or roused;
The speaker charged up the crowd with his inflammatory remarks
Charge
Place a heraldic bearing on;
Charge all weapons, shields, and banners
Charge
Provide with munition;
He loaded his gun carefully
Charge
Direct into a position for use;
Point a gun
He charged his weapon at me
Charge
Impose a task upon, assign a responsibility to;
He charged her with cleaning up all the files over the weekend
Charge
Instruct (a jury) about the law, its application, and the weighing of evidence
Charge
Instruct or command with authority;
The teacher charged the children to memorize the poem
Charge
Attribute responsibility to;
We blamed the accident on her
The tragedy was charged to her inexperience
Charge
Set or ask for a certain price;
How much do you charge for lunch?
This fellow charges $100 for a massage
Charge
Cause formation of a net electrical charge in or on;
Charge a conductor
Charge
Energize a battery by passing a current through it in the direction opposite to discharge;
I need to charge my car battery
Charge
Saturate;
The room was charged with tension and anxiety
Common Curiosities
What is the primary purpose of charging a battery?
Charging a battery aims to supply it with the necessary power to function initially or when a new battery is used.
How does recharging affect the life of a battery?
Proper recharging can extend a battery's life by maintaining its capacity through controlled cycles.
Can all batteries be recharged?
Not all batteries are rechargeable; some, like alkaline batteries, are designed for single use.
What happens if I overcharge a battery?
Overcharging a battery can lead to reduced battery life, potential damage, and in some cases, safety risks like overheating.
Are there environmental benefits to recharging batteries instead of using disposables?
Rechargeable batteries significantly reduce waste and environmental impact compared to disposable batteries, which require more frequent replacement and disposal.
What equipment is necessary for charging a battery?
To charge a battery, you typically need a charger that is compatible with the battery type and voltage specifications.
How does temperature affect charging and recharging?
Extreme temperatures can affect battery performance and charging efficiency; batteries charge best at room temperature.
What are the signs that a battery needs recharging?
Signs include decreased device performance, faster drain than usual, or the device indicating a low battery level.
Is there a difference in the time it takes to charge vs. recharge a battery?
The time can vary based on the battery’s remaining power and the charger used; typically, recharging may take longer as it starts from a depleted state.
How do manufacturers recommend charging and recharging devices?
Manufacturers usually provide specific guidelines for charging and recharging to ensure safety and maximize battery life.
Is recharging faster at certain times of the day?
Recharging speed is not affected by the time of day, but it can be influenced by the charger's output and the battery's current capacity.
Can frequent recharging damage a battery?
While modern batteries are designed to withstand numerous recharges, very frequent recharging can eventually decrease the battery's overall lifespan.
Can I use any charger to recharge my device?
It is recommended to use the charger provided by the manufacturer or one that meets the device’s specifications to ensure safety and battery health.
Is it safe to leave a battery charging overnight?
With modern electronics, it is generally safe to leave a battery charging overnight due to built-in overcharge protection; however, it is still advisable to unplug devices once fully charged when possible.
How can I maximize battery life through charging practices?
To maximize battery life, avoid letting the battery completely discharge regularly and try not to keep it fully charged all the time; both extremes can stress the battery.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
