regain
Americanverb (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
verb
-
to take or get back; recover
-
to reach again
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
regainernoun
-
half-regainedadjective
-
regainableadjective
-
unregainableadjective
-
unregainedadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
regainsimple
-
regainssimple
-
have regainedperfect
-
has regainedperfect
-
am regainingprogressive
-
are regainingprogressive
-
is regainingprogressive
-
have been regainingperfect progressive
-
has been regainingperfect progressive
Past
-
regainedsimple
-
had regainedperfect
-
was regainingprogressive
-
were regainingprogressive
-
had been regainingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of regain
Explanation
After you get off of a crazy carnival ride, you'll probably have to regain your balance, or get it back. Any time you've lost something and want to recover it, you hope to regain it. If your friend is furious with you because you didn't keep a secret she told you, you'll probably try to regain her trust and as a result, regain her friendship.
Vocabulary lists containing regain
Hole in My Life
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Messenger
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Counting by 7s
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A version of this review appears in print on April 12, 2014, on page C1 of the with the headline: Trying to Regain Childhood’s Magic.
From New York Times • Apr. 11, 2014
Euro Watch: Confidence in France and Germany Help Euro Regain Ground Two surveys released Friday showed unexpected strength in consumer sentiment in the two key euro zone countries.
From New York Times • May 25, 2012
So when Michael Porter says something new, it's worth noting, as with his recent piece for Businessweek.com, "How Big Business Can Regain Legitimacy."
From BusinessWeek • Jun. 22, 2010
Germans Regain Bayer Aspirin The German chemical firm Bayer paid $1 billion to regain the American rights to its name by buying the North American over-the-counter medicine business of Sterling Winthrop.
From Time Magazine Archive
His wheels, resurging from the depth of even, Roll back the night, streak wide the startled heaven, Regain their easting with reverted gyres, And stud their path with scintillating fires.
From The Columbiad by Barlow, Joel
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
