regain

verb

re·​gain ri-ˈgān 

regained; regaining

transitive verb

1

: to gain (something) anew : to get (something) again : recover

She regained her health/strength.

I regained my footing/balance.

struggling to regain his composure

pulled ahead to regain the lead

Some of them regained the weight they had lost.

… was still alive and slowly regaining consciousness.

—Walter Isaacson

… managed to regain control of the airplane and execute a successful landing …

—Peter Katz

2

: to get back to (something) : to reach (something) again

After a prolonged struggle to regain the ridge, during which the only assistance my partners could offer was a tight rope, I crawled back along the path I had so recently chiseled …

—Jeff Lowe

… one of them was unhorsed and then, when out of view, regained his saddle.

—Daniel J. Boorstin

Synonyms

• get back
• re-collect
• reacquire
• recapture
• reclaim
• recoup
• recover
• repossess
• retake
• retrieve

Examples of regain in a Sentence

our team regained the ball with just two minutes left on the clock

Recent Examples on the Web

United Launch Alliance As a result, a required orbit insertion burn did not happen on time and because of unrelated communications issues, flight controllers were unable to regain control in time to press ahead with a space station rendezvous. —William Harwood, CBS News, 7 May 2024

Russell regained his starting spot in mid-January and later set the franchise’s single-season record for 3-point baskets. —Khobi Price, Orange County Register, 6 May 2024

Once a pulse was regained, she had been moved to the second floor of the ICU. —Andrea Klick, Kansas City Star, 5 May 2024

In interviews, these women cited enlistment motives similar to those of male convicts: freedom, money and regaining their sense of self-worth. —Ekaterina Bodyagina, New York Times, 4 May 2024

The Nuggets stand zero chance of advancing if Jamal Murray, bothered by a sore left calf, cannot regain his explosiveness and scoring. —Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 4 May 2024

In the House, the minority leader is often seen as the speaker-in-waiting, the highest-ranking official of the party that’s out of power, biding their time in hopes of regaining the majority — and with it, the speaker’s gavel — in the next election. —Lisa Mascaro, Fortune, 2 May 2024

This is important for athletes who want to regain unimpeded function of the elbow. —Oluseun Olufade, Verywell Health, 1 May 2024

Wilting leaves will often regain their appearance when temperatures cool and shade sets in in the evening. —Steve Bender, Southern Living, 1 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1569, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing regain

• regain consciousness

Kids Definition

regain

verb

re·​gain

ri-ˈgān

1

: to gain or get again

regained my health

2

: to get back to : reach again

regain the shore