regain

verb

re·​gain ri-ˈgān How to pronounce regain (audio)
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

Examples of regain in a Sentence

our team regained the ball with just two minutes left on the clock
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Turn into the skid - Turning into the skid can help the vehicle's tires realign to regain control. Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 20 June 2025 The two-time major champion has regained his peak form during the 2025 season, earning one victory at the RBC Heritage and three second-place finishes in 14 tournaments. Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 June 2025 Oliveira had a chance to regain the belt in October 2022, but Islam Makhachev submitted him and claimed the vacant belt. Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025 The decision blocks, at least temporarily, Gov. Gavin Newsom's efforts to regain control of the Guard. Brittney Melton, NPR, 20 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for regain

Word History

First Known Use

1569, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of regain was in 1569

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Regain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/regain. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on regain

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!