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.
The Rays regained the lead when Morel, who had struck out over his first six at-bats of the series (and was hitting .208 at the time), homered to lead off the seventh. Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2025 Perhaps, in some ideal world, Sasaki will regain the velocity that could help patch over some of the Dodgers’ October bullpen woes. Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 6 Aug. 2025 Make sure the tires reconnect with the road - During the skid, wait until the tires reconnect with the road and then gently straighten the wheels to regain control. Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 5 Aug. 2025 This trend is unfolding as the Kremlin touts economic resilience, and some tycoons are regaining assets amid an exodus of Western corporations from Russia. Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Aug. 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 14 Aug. 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
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