What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
recapture
Example
The army was able to recapture the city from the enemy forces. [recapture: verb]
Example
I tried to recapture the moment by looking at old photographs. [recapture: verb]
Example
The song recaptured the nostalgia of my childhood. [recaptured: past participle]
regain
Example
He was able to regain his strength after being sick for weeks. [regain: verb]
Example
The company was able to regain its reputation after the scandal. [regain: verb]
Example
She worked hard to regain her confidence after the failure. [regain: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Regain is more commonly used than recapture in everyday language. Regain is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while recapture is less common and often used in more specific or emotional contexts.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between recapture and regain?
Both recapture and regain are formal enough to be used in academic or professional writing. However, regain is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, while recapture is less common and may be more appropriate for creative or emotional writing.