regain

[ree-geyn]

See more synonyms for regain on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to get again; recover: to regain one's health.
to succeed in reaching again; get back to: to regain the shore.

noun

(in a moisture-free fabric) the percentage of the weight that represents the amount of moisture the material is expected to absorb under normal conditions.

Origin of regain

First recorded in 1540–50; re- + gain¹

Related formsre·gain·a·ble, adjectivere·gain·er, nounhalf-re·gained, adjectiveun·re·gain·a·ble, adjectiveun·re·gained, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for regain

achieve, retake, reach, recapture, recoup, recover, attain, reclaim, gain, retrieve, recruit, repossess, redeem, compass, save, reacquire

Examples from the Web for regain

Contemporary Examples of regain

Men and women who become infertile as a result of chemotherapy could also regain their reproductive capabilities.
Men Will Someday Have Kids Without Women
Samantha Allen
January 3, 2015
To regain their relevancy, Democrats need to go back to their evolutionary roots.
Time to Bring Back the Truman Democrats
Joel Kotkin
December 21, 2014
Muse was looking to regain custody of her four children—Justin, Sarah, Patrick and Rachel.
Beaten By His Church for Being Gay
Justin Jones
December 16, 2014
There was some small sliver of hope that Democrats could regain some lost ground in 2016 with Hillary Clinton on the ballot.
Southern Dems Won’t Rise Again
Ben Jacobs
December 5, 2014
The investigation is now in its tenth year, and has yet to regain its credibility.
Digital Doublethink: Playing Truth or Dare with Putin, Assad and ISIS
Christopher Dickey, Anna Nemtsova
November 16, 2014

Historical Examples of regain

He had suffered himself to regain something of his old cheerfulness of manner.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
The Duke wanted a capable candidate to help him regain his ascendency.
The Grand Old Man
Richard B. Cook
But at present I cannot regain my old self, I can only obey my impulses.
The Dream
Emile Zola
She now suffered him to regain courage, by winning back some of his own money.
Tales And Novels, Volume 3 (of 10)
Maria Edgeworth
The half-minute or so of talk had enabled him to regain his breath.
The Rock of Chickamauga
Joseph A. Altsheler

British Dictionary definitions for regain

regain

verb (rɪˈɡeɪn) (tr)

to take or get back; recover
to reach again

noun (ˈriːˌɡeɪn)

the process of getting something back, esp lost weightthis regain was inevitable

Derived Formsregainable, adjectiveregainer, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for regain

1540s, from Middle French regaigner (Modern French regagner), from re- "again" (see re-) + gaginer, from Old French gaaignier (see gain (v.)). Related: Regained; regaining.