What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
reclaim
Example
The government is working to reclaim the land that was illegally taken from the indigenous people. [reclaim: verb]
Example
The artist used reclaimed wood to create a unique sculpture. [reclaimed: adjective]
regain
Example
After losing the lead, the team worked hard to regain their position in the game. [regain: verb]
Example
It took her a long time to regain her strength after the surgery. [regain: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Regain is more commonly used than reclaim in everyday language. Regain is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while reclaim is less common and refers to a more specific process of restoring or repurposing something.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between reclaim and regain?
Both reclaim and regain are relatively formal words that are appropriate for use in academic or professional contexts.
